Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin (right) and Scott Hottfield, of Immigration and Custom Enforcement, speak to members of the media during a press conference to launch JOLT held at the Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Six of nine persons reportedly held in a JOLT (Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing) task force operation in St James on Thursday, have been transported to the Corporate Area.
While Superintendent Fitz Bailey told The Gleaner yesterday that "the suspects will be interviewed by OCID (Organised Crime Investigative Division) detectives", he was reluctant to divulge details of the cases against them.
The Jamaica/United States task force will focus on stamping out the deadly multi- billion dollar lottery scam industry, which had its genesis in Montego Bay, St James.
recovered items
Several motor vehicles, a licensed firearm, cash and electronic equipment were recovered during operations conducted at Bogue Village, Westgate Hills and Anchovy in St James on Thursday, a day after the task force was officially launched in Kingston.
Four houses were searched and six vehicles, including Lexus and Dodge vans; one 600cc motor bike, which was later found to have been stolen from Florida; several computers; valuable electronic equipment; $185,000; the firearm, and listings with names and numbers with notations were confiscated.
The lotto scam involves the use of illicitly obtained personal information on potential victims, particularly US retirees, to con them into sending them money on the pretext that they have won a lottery and need to send a processing fee to claim their winnings.
Police information indicates that those involved, including school children, make US$4,000 (J$353,922.54) to US$10,000 (J$884,806.36) weekly.