Key Takeaways
- Law enforcement is investigating C-TOC officers for potentially under-reporting cocaine seized from a police storage facility.
- Authorities discovered illegal cocaine parcels during an internal audit of the C-TOC, leading to its disbandment.
- Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake reassigned over 40 officers after dismantling the C-TOC Division.
- MOCA agents conducted searches at multiple locations, including the home of a senior officer associated with C-TOC.
- Major Basil Jarrett from MOCA stated that further details will be released when safe and responsible.
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Law enforcement officials have targeted close to a dozen high-ranking C-TOC police officers and soldiers regarding an elaborate narcotics investigation. This narcotics investigation concerns cocaine authorities seized from a police storage facility in January. The seizure has drawn the attention of Jamaica’s international law-enforcement partners, according to the Gleaner.
Reports indicate that the investigation aims to determine whether law enforcement personnel significantly under-reported the quantity of cocaine seized during an operation in western Jamaica several months ago.
In January, authorities conducted an internal audit of the Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Division (C-TOC). During this audit, they discovered two illegal parcels of cocaine in a storage facility, according to a statement from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). The statement also confirmed that the JCF has disbanded the C-TOC Division.
The incident prompted an immediate high-level investigation. Weeks later, Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake dismantled the division responsible for combating organized criminal syndicates in Jamaica. As a result, the authorities reassigned over 40 police officers to other divisions.
The investigation became public on Wednesday when agents from the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) conducted an early morning search at the home of a senior officer. This officer had previously been assigned to the Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) in St. Andrew, according to multiple sources.
MOCA agents Transported a senior C-TOC officer in handcuff.
Later, cops transported the senior officer in handcuffs to two other locations in St Andrew and Clarendon. At these locations, they conducted other searches.
According to reports, the police continued their search operations overnight at locations linked to other suspects.
MOCA confirmed late Wednesday that its agents were engaged in a series of operations to execute search and seizure warrants at several locations across the Corporate Area. This was part of an ongoing investigation.
However, Major Basil Jarrett, the director of communications at MOCA, has declined to provide specific information about the investigation and the operations.
“Due to the sensitive nature of the investigations and today’s operations, I am unable to disclose any additional details, except to say that the public will be informed of more information as soon as we are in a position to do so safely and responsibly,” Jarrett told The Gleaner.
The audit of the storage facility at C-TOC was prompted by the arrest of Police Inspector Martin Walker. He was also assigned to C-TOC, according to a statement issued by the JCF in January. It was alleged that a quantity of cocaine was found in Walker’s private vehicle during an operation on January 8.
At the time, the police alleged that they found a quantity of cocaine in Walker’s private vehicle during an operation on January 8.