MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Police are reporting that they have ramped up operations in collaboration with a mining company’s security team targeting the lucrative black market for stolen low-sulphur diesel following an operation on a haul road near Porus, Manchester on Tuesday.

During the early morning operation, 30 containers of stolen diesel fuel and 13 empty containers were seized.

About 4:30 am, a security team assigned to Jamalco was on patrol on a haul road and saw a car.

Police said on the approach of the security personnel men ran from the car and made good their escape.

Police from the Mandeville and Porus police stations joined in searching the area and found the containers along with two other vehicles. The team of nine police personnel was led by Sergeant Dwight Holland of the Operational Support Team.

The thieves had reportedly removed the diesel from equipment near a mining site.

The three vehicles and 43 containers were seized.

DSP Valdin Amos, acting operations officer in Manchester said the seizure was the result of sustained police operations in Manchester including the haulage routes, where praedial larceny has become an issue.

“These targeted operations are therefore designed to disrupt these movement hinder further criminal activities protect our national assests, and the livelihood of our farming communities.”

— Kasey Willliams