WESTERN BUREAU
IT WAS MORE than the peddling of straw hats and wood carvings that was uncovered by the Area One police on Wednesday at the Fantasy Craft Market on Montego Bay's popular Hip Strip.
Members of a joint security task force dubbed 'Operation Alpha' stormed the market sending drug peddlers fleeing for cover. The police report that 114 pounds of ganja was seized during the operation.
Other sections of Montego Bay, including the Old Shoes Arcade and a residence in Catherine Hall were also raided, 57 pieces of crack cocaine and 35 Ecstasy tablets were also uncovered.
CRIMINAL ACTORS
"Operation Alpha, which will run until December, is a partnership between the four divisions and is intelligence-driven," stated Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith 'Trinity' Gardener, who is in charge of Area One. "The crime plan is targeting areas plagued with serious crimes and to that end a substantial number of criminal actors have been identified and we are in the process of bringing them to book."
Thirty-nine persons were detained, five of whom were charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs and Pharmaceutical acts. He said 40 vehicles have been impounded under the new initiative, which will also target crime-plagued communities in St. James, Trelawny, Hanover and Westmoreland.
Trevor Davis, 25, a labourer of Railway Lane, was arrested for being in possession of Ecstasy pills and an offensive weapon. Four women, Sharon Bell, 43, of North Gully, Donna Grey, 42, Lorna Grey, 38, a shopkeeper and Nicole Watson, 28, a vendor, all from Catherine Hall, were jailed for possession of and dealing in cocaine.
Reports say between 1:00 and 7:00 p.m., 38 shops at the Gloucester Avenue market were searched and ganja was found. Davis was held at the Old Shoes Market, at the section adjacent to Harbour Street, where 25 stalls were searched.
The pieces of crack cocaine were allegedly found in a house occupied by the women.
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