St James woman taken into custody over million-dollar bust
Published:Wednesday | January 24, 2018 | 12:00 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
One woman was arrested in connection with the seizure of $1.4 million and US$8,400 in cash by the security forces during an operation, on Wednesday, which targeted persons involved in the illegal lottery scam and other illicit activities, as part of the ongoing state of emergency in St James.
The seizure took place at a house in the Bottom Pen community in Glendevon approximately 11 a.m.
Information received is that a joint military and police team was conducting search operations in a number of communities across Montego Bay, when they went to a house in Bottom Pen, St James and asked the sole occupant if she had anything to declare, to which she replied in the negative.
Her answer failed to assuage the interest from the lawmen, and a search of her premises was undertaken in her presence and the cash found hidden between pages of several books and in a cupboard.
The woman could not give a satisfactory account for the money or its origins, and as a result, the cash, two cell phones and a tablet computer were seized. She was then taken to the Freeport Police Station for further questioning.