The police reported Tuesday that there are now six people in custody for the attack on a Beryllium security team in last month’s multimillion-dollar heist in Portmore, St Catherine.

The constabulary, meanwhile, is moving to clamp down on the spate of attacks that have been launched on cash-heavy sources such as ATMs and courier services in recent months.

At a digital press conference from police headquarters on Tuesday, the commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson, said with the long arm of the law shutting off sources of funding, criminals have been turning to major cash-ready sources such as ATMs and courier services.

“We are seeing gangs turn to robberies of high cash amounts to fund their illicit activities, as law enforcement impact their various sources of income. ATMs, business persons handling and transporting high amounts of cash and armoured courier services have been the main target,” he said, noting the heightened apprehension among citizens with the recent Beryllium Limited robberies in Portmore.

Of the six held, one man is facing 12 charges resulting from the Sunday, March 19, attack on the security team at Braeton Parkway in Portmore.In a brazen daylight attack on a Beryllium security team that was depositing cash to a Scotiabank ATM, armed robbers made off with more than $23 million on that fateful Sunday afternoon.”Those persons who believe they can commit these acts, firing their weapons in public spaces without any concern for people, and operating like terrorists, will be found. We will find you and you will face the full force of the law,” the police commissioner warned.

Added Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of crime Fitz Bailey: “We are aware of some of the people who are involved. We have the information, we have the intelligence, and we are working. We have been working diligently to crush the organised crime operations in Jamaica, and we are getting significant results.”

The police commissioner, meanwhile, announced a 22 per cent reduction in major crimes, compared to the first quarter of last year. According to the constabulary’s statistics, murders are down 21 per cent; shootings 13 per cent; rapes by 47 per cent; robberies by 32 per cent; and break-ins by 11 per cent.

However, he pointed out that the cause of homicides continues to shift, with gang conflicts accounting for 67 per cent of killings as at March 31; interpersonal conflict 22 per cent; four per cent in the pursuit of other criminal acts; and seven per cent still to be determined.

In the meantime, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) continues to beef up its capabilities to investigate gang matters, as well as adopt a multi-agency approach to training, Anderson said. He announced an advanced anti-gang training course launched last week, in which 60 participants from local law enforcement agencies, including MOCA, the Department of Corrections, the Victim Support Division of the Ministry of Justice and the Financial Investigation Division participated. The course is being held in partnership with the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

“This multi-stakeholder training programme is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the entire law enforcement community to investigate, prosecute and ultimately secure conviction in organised crime cases. We believe that this training will lead to even more arrests and convictions,” Anderson said.

At the same time, he advised that between January and March, the police sized 225 illegal firearms at the ports – the largest bust since 2017. This included two major seizures of 22 weapons in January, and 59 in February. Also, 238 people were arrested and charged with various gun-related offences. The police also seized 1,563 kilogrammes of cocaine; 4,204 kilogrammes of marijuana, and arrested and charged 94 people with gun-related offences.

In the meantime, he advised that since the new firearms legislation was passed in November, 658 charges have been laid against 353 people for offences under the Act. “The increased law enforcement action against the entire criminal ecosystem involving prohibited firearms is a critical component of our overall fight against crime,” the police chief stressed, adding that the JCF anticipates the additional support which will come from the updated Bail Act and Fingerprints Act.