By Glenroy Sinclair and Claude Mills, Staff ReportersA NUMBER of criminal gangs across the island have joined forces in stronger and more organised units, according to the newly-created Organised Crime Investigation Division.
A new trend has developed where former rival criminal outfits form an unholy alliance, pooling their resources - and muscle - to control key geographical areas, operate multimillion-dollar extortion rackets and recruit business professionals to aid in the laundering of money.
"The amalgamated gangs have caused some of the old gangs to be redundant," said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Cornwall 'Bigga' Ford.
According to DSP Ford, these organised gangs are now operating under "one order". Their modus operandi is to reap big bucks from whatever illegal proceedings they are involved in.
"These organised gangs are in the business for making money. They hire the best accountants, the best lawyers, financial controller and the best of everything," said DSP Ford.
The newly-created division has been carefully selecting its staff in a bid to stay one step ahead of the criminals. Back-ground checks are currently being conducted on every individual earmarked to be transferred to the division.
The new division, which came on stream two months ago, was created shortly after Police Commissioner Francis Forbes disbanded the Reneto Adams-led Crime Management Unit (CMU). DSP Ford and two other Deputy Superintendents, Asmond Wright and William Christie, were transferred to the new unit by Commissioner Forbes. DSP Ford listed some of the major gangs as 'Presidential Click' of Tivoli Gardens and 'Spanglers' from the Matthews Lane area, of Western Kingston; and 'New World Order' from Southside, 'Spoilers' and 'Tel-Aviv' from central Kingston. He also listed the 'Bi-Bow' gang from Arnett Gardens in southern St. Andrew and the 'Bulbie' and 'Bu-Ba' gangs in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. The officer stressed that most of these gangs have network in the United States and the United Kingdom.
TERRORISING MARKET VENDORS
In Spanish Town, the Bu-ba or 'One Order' gang has been terrorising market vendors in that town. The gang members reportedly pose as market vendors and openly extort goods and money from the vendors, The Gleaner was told.
According to the police in Spanish Town, this has reportedly led to a 50 per cent fall off in market fees collected by the St. Catherine Parish Council.
"The gang has also beaten people who have bypassed the 'One Order' to report crimes to the police," an informed police source said.
"The One Order justice is a shot through the foot," the source said.
The 'One Order' gang is made up of residents of communities of Ellerslie Pen, Gordon Pen, Tawes Pen, Homestead, and Bongo Lane. Police activity has weakened the leadership structure through a number of key arrests and raids.
A police source pointed to what he dubbed 'political protection' of individuals from key trouble spots in the area where residents blocks roads when arrests are made.
"The politicians need to distance themselves from the behaviour of these people," the informed source said.
DEALING WITH GANGSTERS
Prior to the launching of the anti-crime initiative in December last year, the Commissioner had said the intelligence capability of the Police Force had been greatly improved and that police personnel were focusing on organised crime, gangs and other groups, preparing a list of names, as well as arrest and search warrants.
A 27-year veteran of the Force, DSP Ford has been given the task to deal with gangs, dons and the extortion racket. DSP Wright is targeting cop killers and stolen motor vehicle rackets, while DSP Christie is in charge of the operational arm of the unit.
"Right now we are dealing with the paper work of the investigations. We have been visiting a number of institutions collecting data on individuals. When everything is completed then we will turn up at some of their doors to arrest them. We want everybody to just be patient with us," DSP Ford told The Gleaner yesterday.
