HANOVER, Jamaica—Four men, including a minor, have been arrested and charged in connection with the seizure of 280 illegal gas cylinders valued at $1.5 million in Hanover on Tuesday.

Charged are 34-year-old Kymani Peddie of Ridge Mount Gardens; 39-year-old Jasimar Peddie of Ridge Mount Gardens; 60-year-old truck driver, Errol Smith of Haughton Court in Lucea and a 17-year-old boy of Richmond district, all in Hanover. They have been charged with unauthorised use of trademark, misleading and deceptive conduct and breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Reports are that about 5:00 pm, detectives assigned to the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC) intercepted a motor truck in Lucea, Hanover, carrying gas cylinders.

An inspection of the vehicle revealed that several cylinders lacked the required safety seals.

Follow-up investigations took police to Copperwood district in Lucea, where they discovered a plant illegally filling and selling branded cylinders owned by other rights holders.

Superintendent of police Victor Barrett of C-TOC is appealing to citizens to purchase cooking gas only from authorised sellers and dealers, stressing that failure to do so can result in severe risk.

“Improper gas cylinder filling techniques often bypass critical safety checks, putting lives and property at grave risk. Faulty seals can lead to dangerous gas leaks, and unregulated plants pose a serious threat to our soil and water resources. We strongly warn all individuals to immediately stop this practice,” said Barrett.

They accused are scheduled to appear in Hanover Parish Court on Tuesday, February 24.