THE hunt for the gunmen caught on a viral social media post firing weapons in Jarrett Lane in the Corporate Area intensified on Wednesday, with 12 people arrested and several illegal weapons seized during home searches, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) confirmed.

The crackdown comes after a 45-second-long video posted on Tuesday showed individuals firing several gunshots into the air near a crowd, sparking an immediate response from the police.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Phipps, the operation, which began around 5:30 am on Wednesday, involved more than 100 security personnel drawn from the Kingston Eastern Division, the Area 4 Fugitive Apprehension team, and the Specialised Operations Division. He added that officers conducted coordinated searches across 12 premises and 42 houses in the Jarrett Lane community.

“A quantity of ganja was found and five 5.6 millimetre cartridges which are used in high-powered rifles, like M16 rifles. We found a number of spent casings and also an empty rifle magazine and items that we refer to as lead sheets which are used in offences against the Law Reform Act, and we were able to arrest on suspicion some 12 persons,” said Phipps said in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

The offences against the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act, often called the Lottery Scam Act, targets scammers and identity theft. Key offences include stealing, possessing, or trafficking access devices, obtaining property by false pretences, intimidating victims of crime, and using premises for fraudulent activities.

Additionally, lead sheets are populated with the names, addresses, telephone numbers, social security numbers, banking information, and other personal information of individuals who are potential targets or victims. This information is then used to contact unsuspecting people to solicit monies from them under false pretence.

Phipps added that the JCF would not rest until it found the men from the video, while also dismantling all other criminal elements within the Jarrett Lane community.

“It is important because we believe that the recovery of the ammunition and other items will put a dent in the operations of these criminal elements operating out of 72 Mountain View Avenue, which is known as the Jarrett Lane community,” he said.

The senior cop also issued a warning to others across Jamaica who may be interested in or are already partaking in criminal activity, declaring that the JCF will act swiftly to apprehend all violators.

“We want to advise other persons who might be like-minded not to engage in any such activity, and the persons who were seen discharging the weapons are persons that will be pursued and we will take the necessary course of action in sending the right message that we are very intolerant of behaviour of this sort,” said Phipps.

He reiterated that the JCF remained committed to keeping communities safe and ensuring that illegal firearms and ammunition are removed from the streets.

“As I always maintain, and I just want to reiterate, this sort of behaviour displayed by these gunmen with the firing of illegal weapons in that manner is not something that the Jamaica Constabulary Force will tolerate in any way, shape, or form,” said Phipps.

Investigations remain active as officers continue to gather evidence and pursue all individuals linked to the incident.