ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Two high-powered weapons were among four guns and 89 assorted rounds of ammunition seized by the St Catherine North Police in Linstead in the parish, on Friday, May 13.

A M16 rifle along with two magazines containing 17 rounds and a 12-gauge shotgun along with five cartridges containing 28 rounds were among the weapons recovered. In addition, the police seized two semi-automatic pistols and 44 rounds of ammunition.

According to a release from the police’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Head of the St Catherine North Police, Senior Superintended Howard Chambers, said shortly after midday, a joint police-military team was on patrol in Commodore district when a man was seen acting in a suspicious manner. He said that the team proceeded to accost the man who subsequently ran off with a large duffle bag. The police gave chase which led to the man fleeing leaving the bag behind.

“We called in additional support to help canvas the area and help search for this man, but efforts were futile. However, upon searching the bag, we found four firearms…plus a blue baseball cap marked ‘police’,” said SSP Chambers.

Indicating that the police will not relent in their efforts to bring normalcy into the division, SSP Chambers said the police have increased their presence in the Linstead sub-division. These include increased patrols and targeted raids. He is therefore calling on law-abiding citizens to continue to cooperate with the police.

“Whenever you see any strange persons operating in your community call the police let us check them out,” said SSP Chambers, adding that the police will not stop until criminal elements that operate in the sub-division are put behind bars.