The deadly lottery scam, which is associated with a rise in crime in St James, is now in operation in the neighbouring parish of Hanover, THE STAR has learnt.
Head of the Hanover police, Deputy Superintendent Durmont Lawrence, told THE STAR yesterday that based on intelligence and operations, the police can confirm that the scam has spread there.
"We have enough evidence to confirm that it is in the parish. We have carried out raids and have made recoveries and arrests," said DSP Lawrence.
Early stages
The police were reluctant to give the details of exactly how the scam was carried out in Hanover, claiming that their investigations were still in their early stages.
However, THE STAR learnt that the racket was being operated in the communities of Montpelier, Hopewell, and Sandy Bay.
THE STAR was told that the police subsequently became aware of the situation due to an obvious move in the economic status of certain individuals, who, at first, were alleged to be involved in the scam.
Call centre
Some of these individuals, it was also said, were once employed to a call centre in St James, which was also utilised in the scam.
"We saw new cars and new houses and so forth, so we carried out raids and operations in which we have made seizures, arrests and also recovered some documents associated with the scam," DSP Lawrence noted.
The police are also concerned about a possible rise in crime which may occur due to the existence of the racket within the division. Police sources told THE STAR of one recent shooting which is theorised to be linked to the illicit activity.
Last Friday, the home of a very influential member of Montpelier was fired upon by several gunmen shortly after he appealed for peace. THE STAR heard that this individual was being targeted by extortionists.
The gunmen reportedly opened fired on the house with a woman and three children inside. They escaped unhurt, however, only after the thugs made off with several articles of clothing.
Plans
"It is there. Plans are there to deal with this type of activity as it is easily associated with other types of criminal activities, such as extortion," explained DSP Lawrence before saying that the police would be continuing their investigations while trying to clamp down on the scam before it spiralled out of control.
The profitable lottery scam was linked to a rise in murders in western Jamaica, Mostly St James, beginning in 2006. In February 2007, a combined operation with the police and military, carried out raids at some 13 locations in the parish. Subsequently, 30 persons alleged to be involved with the scam were arrested.
A month later, Superintendent Steve McGregor was transferred to St James in an effort to curb the murder rate in communities such as Flankers. At that point, the police summarised at least 20 murders were committed in the community in a few months.
Based on police intelligence, the scammers would obtain the names and addresses of telemarketing customers who had purchased sweepstakes tickets via the Internet.
The customers would then be contacted by telephone and informed that they had won the lottery. These customers, unaware of the scam, would then pay 'processing fees' of up to US$5,000 to claim their prize.
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