Andem gang member held in London, say police
A man police say is a member of the Joel Andem gang, and who was wanted in connection with the murder of 27 year-old businessman, Ian McGilvie of Papine, was held in London last Wednesday and sent back to Jamaica on Thursday to be charged.
According to the Constabulary Communication Network, (CNN) 34 year-old Carl James, also known as “Buju” and “Turkey” of Highlight View, Papine, was held at Heathrow Airport after he was refused entry into England. He was sent back to Jamaica on Thursday and was picked up by detectives from the Flying Squad and St Andrew Central Division. He was charged with McGilvie’s murder and will appear in the Corporate Area Criminal Court today, police say.
McGilvie was killed on January 17 this year.
At the time the CCN had reported that at 6:55 pm on January 17 McGilvie was seen talking with three men at his business place at Highlight View. Shortly after, the police say, explosions were heard in McGilvie’s hardware store and men were reportedly seen running from the premises. McGilvie was found shot in the head and chest. According to the police report, a section of the store had been ransacked and a drawer in which money was kept was seen on the floor. The police also found three spent shells on the scene.
Following investigations, the police say warrants of arrest were issued for three Andem gang members implicated in the killing — Oneil Lawrence, Carl James, and a man known only as “Snakey”.
While Lawrence has since been held, “Snakey” is still on the run.
The Andem gang came to national prominence after a video of them, found during a police raid on their camp in Rawley Hill Gully, St Andrew in January, was aired on TVJ. The video showed Andem brandishing an AK-47 assault rifle while other members of his gang, including two females, flirted around with handguns.
The Joel Andem Gang, which the police believe comprises several ex-convicts, is wanted for several crimes committed in Papine and the surrounding areas.