MONTEGO BAY, St James -The Montego Bay police on Friday night detained 20 men - believed to be linked to major crimes in St James - and seized 350 sticks of ganja during a joint police/military operation at the Old Shoe Market in that resort city.

GREEN... says police have been maintaining a heavy presence in the Red Hills Road area

An assortment of weapons were also seized during the operation.
The operation, which was led by commanding Officer for St James, Superintendent Steve McGregor, saw the facility being cordoned for more than three hours, as the over 60 policemen and soldiers searched the facility.

According to Superintendent McGregor, the Old Shoe market has been linked to several illegal activities.
" We believe that there is trading in guns, drugs and ammunition at the market and this we believe is contributing to the ongoing violence in the parish," Mc Gregor explained.

Since the start of the year there have been 44 murders in the St James. The trail of violence has prompted concerns among business interests regarding the likely negative effect it will have on the tourism industry.

Yesterday, Mc Gregor told the Sunday Observer that the police would be carrying out several more raids, as part of their plan to stem the bloodletting in the parish.
"We will continue to pursue the criminals relentlessly in an effort to bring down the crime rate," he emphasised.

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