At least three persons suspected of stealing sand from properties in Trelawny are now in police custody.

However, up to late yesterday, the police were refusing to provide any details. They argued that, because of the state of their investigation, they could not disclose the identities of the persons arrested or their roles in the sand theft.

Yesterday, attorney-at-law Tom Tavares-Finson confirmed his clients, Devon Sterling and Christopher Pryce, had been arrested, along with another man, but not charged.

Being held at ocid

He said the men might be formally interviewed by police today and are being held at the Organised Crime Investigation Division.

Gleaner sources claimed none of those arrested was the mastermind of the operation which resulted in the theft of almost 500 truckloads of sand from three properties.

The sources further claimed that it did not appear that any member of the police force was arrested, although eyewitnesses have claimed policemen provided security cover over the three nights the sand was stolen.

The Gleaner understands that early yesterday morning, the police, armed with warrants, targeted properties in the Corporate Area and Westmoreland.

Satisfied with briefing

The Government's point man in the sand probe, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Daryl Vaz, told The Gleaner that while the arrests of the alleged perpetrators were long in coming, he was satisfied, having received an initial briefing from the investigators.

"I expect that the police have carefully put their case together and they will be in a position to secure convictions," Vaz said.

Vaz has repeatedly argued that the Government would not interfere in the police investigation despite claims that prominent Jamaica Labour Party supporters could be involved.

Yesterday, he said the administration was prepared to "let the chips fall where they may".

The police were called in late June after Felicitas Limited discovered that tons of sand had been stolen from a Coral Springs, Trelawny, property where it had intended to develop a multibillion-dollar six-star beach resort.

Other thefts

Checks by The Gleaner later revealed that sand had also been stolen from properties owned by political activist and businessman Ras Astor Black and former Member of Parliament Desmond Leaky.

Yesterday, managing director of Felicitas, Fredrik Moe told The Gleaner that while his company was concentrating on its civil suit, it is keeping an eye on the police investigation.

"We are happy that the investigation is ongoing and hope it will bear some fruits soon," Moe said.

Last month, Felicitas filed a lawsuit against Fiesta Jamaica Ltd, Riu, Palmyra Resort & Spa Ltd and Bedrock Building and Aggregates Ltd, seeking to recover millions of dollars it said it lost because of the theft of the sand.

Government sources close to the investigation have said there is no geological evidence to confirm that sand samples taken from the hotels were taken from Coral Springs in Trelawny.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com