Eight arrested in St Mary police crackdown

Police in St Mary scored a major hit against criminals on Wednesday after seizing a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol and thirteen rounds of ammunition and arresting eight people during a massive pre-dawn operation in Crooked River, Annotto Bay.

Reports are that about 6:15 a.m., cops from the Area 2 Fugitive Apprehension Team (AFAT), acting on intelligence, launched a series of raids and vehicle checkpoints across the division. During the search of a three-bedroom house in Crooked River, occupied by three people, lawmen reportedly found the firearm and ammunition in one of the bedrooms.

The three occupants were taken into custody and later charged jointly with possession of a prohibited weapon and unauthorized possession of ammunition.

Further investigations led to the arrest of another man at a nearby premises, bringing the total number of people held in connection with the firearm to four.

In total, eight people were arrested and charged for various offences including possession of identity information, dealing in ganja, trafficking ganja and possession of an offensive weapon.

Those charged are:

Akeim Walters, 21, machine operator of Crooked River, Annotto Bay, charged with possession of prohibited weapon, unauthorized possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of property.

Shane Daley, 44, bus operator of Crooked River, Annotto Bay, charged with possession of prohibited weapon and unauthorized possession of ammunition.

Collen Simms, 54, of Crooked River, Annotto Bay, charged with possession of prohibited weapon and unauthorized possession of ammunition.

Nikiann Edwards, 31, waiter of Crooked River, Annotto Bay, charged with dealing in and trafficking ganja.

Ricardo Henry, 28, deliveryman of Annotto Bay, charged with dealing in and trafficking ganja.

Christoff Maylor, 28, of Cane River, Annotto Bay, charged with possession of identity information.

Vance Brown, 30, farmer of Fort George, Annotto Bay, charged with possession of offensive weapon.

Donte Samuels, 23, of Crab Hall, Annotto Bay, charged with possession of identity information.

Police say the operation is part of a parish-wide crackdown targeting illegal guns and criminal networks across St Mary.

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