Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator

A study on the effects of criminal deportation in Jamaica has revealed that 71 per cent of the 33,268 persons deported over the last 15 years were sent home because of a criminal offence. The remainder were deported because of their illegal immigration status.

According to the study conducted by a team of researchers, 23,728 Jamaicans were deported because of their involvement in crime.

Upsurge in crime

In a statement to Parliament yesterday, National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips pointed to a link between certain deported criminal offenders and an upsurge in the incidents of gang violence, extortion and drug-related murders.

"Of the total number of criminal offenders returned to Jamaica, the vast majority - some 72 per cent - were persons who had been deported for drug-related offences. To put it another way, an average of almost 1,000 persons are deported to Jamaica each year for drug offences," Dr. Phillips revealed.

He told the House of Representatives that in addition to the massive influx of drug offenders, the study found that the second-highest reason for criminal deportation related to the illegal possession or use of firearms, which represents seven per cent of those deported.

The study was conducted by Annmarie Barnes, Professor Barry Chevannes and Andrea McCalla on behalf of the Ministry of National Security and the Planning Institute of Jamaica.