Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE TOP leadership of St. Catherine's two most prominent criminal gangs - the 'One Order' and 'Clansman' - are either in custody or on the run as a result of the major offensive launched against them eight months ago, claims Operation Kingfish.
"Three key members of the One Order gang were taken into custody over the past two weeks and just yesterday (Friday), we arrested and charged one of the most feared members of the 'Clansman' gang," Superintendent Denver Frater, a senior member of the Operation Kingfish task force, told The Gleaner last week. "We are now closing in on other members of these gangs so you can expect additional arrests in the upcoming weeks."
The alleged One Order members in custody are 30-year-old Ricardo 'Jah Jah' Gordon, the reputed area leader of the Homestead area in Spanish Town, and his top two lieutenants, 24-year-old Dalton 'Jas' Thomas and 20-year-old Terence 'Hobut' King. The alleged Clansman in custody is Jason 'Citipuss' Brown.
Superintendent Frater said that, on the morning of September 17, Gordon and a group of heavily armed men, including Thomas and King, went to the home of a man who had offended them, with the intention of killing him.
"They took the individual from his home, but their plan to kill him was interrupted by a passing motorist," said Superintendent Frater. "The intended victim took the opportunity to make his escape. While he was running away, they fired several shots at him."
Investigators who subsequently visited the scene of the shooting, reportedly recovered a wide assortment of spent shells from several high-powered weapons. The spent shell count was dominated by those fired from AK-47s.
Brown, said to be a top enforcer in the Clansman gang, was arrested in Portmore, St. Catherine, on September 22, and was subsequently charged with the murder of 38-year-old Errol Miller, who was killed on July 19, along Monk Street, in Spanish Town.
DEPORTED FROM ENGLAND
Brown, who was deported from England in December of last year, is also being investigated in connection with several reports of shooting and murder in which he is the prime suspect. He is to face a series of identification parades next week.
With regards to those gangsters who are now on the run, Superintendent Frater said they are being pursued relentlessly across the island.
The two gangs, which are said to be aligned to the two major political parties - the Clansman to the ruling People's National Party (PNP) and the One Order to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) - are believed to be behind the violence and extortion which have transformed Spanish Town from a major commercial hub to a haven of criminality.
In addition to their extortion schemes, the gangs have been locked in a bitter turf war, especially in the heart of the Spanish Town commercial district, where business has been suffering as a consequence of the ongoing violence and wanton murders.
