Western Bureau:
With western Jamaica the epicentre of scamming activity and St James, in particular, the hot spot, Assistant Commissioner of Police Winchroy Budhoo, the man in charge of the Area One police, is once again warning those involved to desist or face the long arm of the law.
Budhoo issued the warning during a press briefing at the end of a two-day operation on Wednesday afternoon targeting those involved in the lottery scam and the guns-for-drugs trade.
Among the 19 persons held during the operations were seven individuals wanted for extradition to the United States for roles played in the infamously lucrative lottery scam. An eighth was added to the list yesterday.
"These operations will have a significant impact in the west, primarily Westmoreland and St James, but what I want the people of Area One to know is that we will not sit idly by and allow criminals to take over the place," Budhoo said.
"So operations like this will continue, and those who believe that they can go ahead and continue in their way of life by killing people, shooting people and being involved in the guns-for-drugs trade, know that we are coming for you and we are going to get you."