Police Arrest More Than 130

More than 130 people were taken into custody by members of the Lottery Scam Taskforce during an operation at a night club just outside of Discovery Bay, In St. Ann, early this morning.

Head of the Taskforce, Superintendent Leon Clunis says police got information that persons involved in the lottery scam may have been having a party at the night club, off the Queen’s Highway.

Superintendent Clunis says police went to the night club just before 4 this morning and carried out a search.

He says a lot of drugs was seized and one person has been charged for the drugs found in his possession.

The suspect’s identity is being withheld pending further investigations.

Superintendent Clunis says two men, who were wanted on other charges by the police, were among those taken into custody.

One of the men has been identified as Kenrick Stevenson from Montego Bay, St. James, who was wanted for Illegally Abstracting Electricity from a Jamaica Public Service (JPS) power line and Absconding Bail.

The other man, who is said to be from Kingston, was taken into custody on a warrant of House Breaking and Larceny.

Superintendent Clunis says 15 motor vehicles, three laptop computers and a number of mobile phones were among other items confiscated during the pre-dawn operation.

He says when the police were making the arrests they initially thought most of the persons were females.

However, many of those persons were later found to be men dressed as females.

Superintendent Clunis points out that the police are only concerned about arresting persons who are involved in criminal activities.

He says the Lottery Scam Taskforce, which is a part of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption (MOCA) Taskforce, will not let up in its efforts to fight crime.

Superintendent Clunis points out that corporate Jamaica is on board and members have been providing the police with assistance, in terms of intelligence.

Meanwhile, police say a major player in the lottery scam was arrested by police in St. Elizabeth yesterday.

Superintendent Clunis says members from his team in collaboration with the Santa Cruz police arrested the man after he collected some $250,000 from a money transfer agency.

He is to be interviewed as soon as he acquires legal representation.