ST JAMES, Jamaica — The police in St James have revealed that they have taken several Haitians into custody in what they believe is a disruption to gang activities.

According to Superintendent Lynroy Edwards, operations officer for the ongoing crime reduction activity, Operation Endgame, in the parish, a Jamaican woman was also taken in relation to the incident.

“On Monday, four Haitians and one female Jamaican were taken into custody after operations were carried out at two locations in Blue Hole community of Montpellier, St James,” he explained.

He said that particular operation was in search of a major violence producer, said to be in that particular area.

“Our intelligence is pointing to gang affiliation, and the female has been playing a major role over time in recruiting Haitians for gangs,” he continued.

He said investigations are at an early stage, but continue as it relates to this matter.

Further to that, he said that they also made another breakthrough during the course of the week as they carried on their push to continue their reduction in crime in the parish.

“On Wednesday, about 5:15 am, the police conducted an operation along the Ironshore main road where an amputee was seen hopping into bushes,” he said.

“A search was subsequently conducted of the area and one pistol containing five 9mm rounds were recovered,” he continued.

The amputee, he said, and another man were arrested in relation to the find, but he also provided some information about the allegedly criminal connections of the amputee.

“The amputee has been a member of the now-defunct Ski Mask gang that used to operate in the Lilliput space, and based on our intelligence, is still involved in gang activities,” he disclosed.

On Tuesday, they seized another firearm, this time in the Montego West Village community and one man was taken into custody as well.

“On the 14th of October, about 1:15 pm, one 9mm pistol was recovered at Plum Bago Circle, Montego West Village, Granville, St. James,” he said.

“A 43-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the find after a targeted raid was conducted at his house.”

This follows last week’s success, where two men were taken into custody after a gun was found on Friday, October 10, in the Bogue Heights community.

“One 9mm pistol and a Glock 17 pistol and seven rounds were recovered, and two men were arrested during a raid at Bougainvillea Drive, Bogue Heights in Montego Bay,” Edwards said.

The raid, he explained, was carried out by St James police and the Area 1 Lottery Scam Task Force after a black Toyota Crown motor car disobeyed the police signal to stop and sped off along the Bogue Heights main road.

“It was subsequently intercepted and lottery scamming paraphernalia were found with the two men that were found aboard. This led to a further search of their private quarters where the firearm was found,” said Edwards.

He said that the police will be continuing their efforts to maintain and reduce the crime rate in the parish, which is trending at major lows for several consecutive months.

“The St James police, along with our supporting formations and counterparts from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), will continue our relentless operations against criminal networks in order to sustain and preserve the safety and security across the parish,” he declared.