TWO MONTHS after the task force was formed, Spokespersons for Operation Kingfish are bullish on prospects for bringing down some major crime figures, and are speaking optimistically of 'hitting the jackpot' soon.Known formally as the Counter-Narcotics and Major Crimes Task Force, Operation Kingfish has, as one of its main mandates, the targeting of drug dons and their assets.
The promise of catching more of the 'kingfish' being sought was not an empty boast, said Detective Superintendent Denver Frater, director of investigations at the task force. Many of those being targeted, he said, are "prominent individuals in this country who have big connections outside of the country also."
Superintendent Frater, in an interview with the Sunday Gleaner, confirmed that the connections and assets of Owen Clarke, widely known as 'Father Fowl', were being tracked for seizure by the state, following his conviction and sentencing in the United Kingdom.
But according to Superintendent Frater, Clarke's arrest may be just the tip of the iceberg, as several bigger names are being pursued.
"'Father Fowl' is not the only Kingfish that we are pursuing and we have actually identified a number of others, but in terms of prosecution, it is not something that happens overnight. We have to build our cases carefully in collaboration with our various partners, including the (local) Financial Investigation Division," he said.
Christine Chambers, principal director of the Financial Crimes Division, in confirming the close collaboration between her office and police investigators, explained that forensic examiners from the unit were engaged in tracking the assets of the suspects being targeted. "Using simple paper trails, we are able to come up with the basic living expenses of these individuals and from public records we are able to ascertain, to a great extent, the assets they own," she said.
The work carried out by her office, in collaboration with police investigators, she said, can produce a complete financial profile of the individuals being targeted, as well as those of family members and known associates 'to see if assets are being held in other people's names'.
Use is also made of the Money Laundering Act, she said, under which persons charged with predicate offences, become subject to such assets searches.
It is never easy, Superintendent Frater said, to connect the crime kingpins to the drugs or guns, in which they trade, or the murders they order, 'but we have been doing exceptionally well, and hopefully, very soon, we will be able to hit the jackpot we are closing in on them'.
Clarke's arrest last year was the product of co-operation involving the police and other agencies in Jamaica, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
He was subsequently found guilty of possession with intent to supply and conspiracy to manufacture crack cocaine, and on June 15, this year was sentenced to 13 years in jail in a London court.
'Father Fowl', a music industry figure, lived in what has been described as a modest house in London, but was said to have had extensive real estate holdings in Jamaica and other countries. "His criminal network transcends the UK, Jamaica, the UK and other countries, and separate from his criminal connections, Operation Kingfish, working in tandem with our international partners, as well as other investigative and intelligence organisations, have been looking at his assets, and we have been doing pretty well so far", said Superintendent Frater.
The co-operation with overseas police counterparts took on new dimensions recently, when it was confirmed that several officers from London's Metropolitan Police Service (Scotland Yard) had joined up with Operation Kingfish.
Superintendent Frater, in the meantime, is warning persons related to the drug dealers not to shield them from the law, as their own lives may be in danger.
Research had shown, he said, that problems in the drug trade were behind many of the murders for which the police initially record 'motives unknown'.
"What we have found is that when there is a drug deal that goes sour outside of Jamaica, where the conflicting parties are having difficulties in addressing it there, they would then make contact with their agents in Jamaica who would eliminate family members connected to those with whom they are in conflict in those countries," he said.
Against that background, the police investigator is appealing to family members to be on the lookout for any indication from a relative or friend who may be involved in the gun trade or the drugs trade to alert the authorities, including the 811 number now assigned to Operation Kingfish.
