TRELAWNY, JAMAICA — The Trelawny police have initiated a major crackdown on illicit lottery scam operatives following a recent murder that has brought renewed focus to the connection between such scams and violent crime in the parish.
The latest murder, which occurred on Saturday, July 20, 2024, marked a significant event in a period that had previously seen a lull in murders. The body of a man, believed to be in his mid-twenties, was discovered with gunshot wounds to the head along Flamingo Beach in Falmouth. The victim, still unidentified almost a week later, was wearing a white Louis Vuitton shirt, blue Psycho Bunny shorts, black plaid underpants, and yellow and black Calvin Klein slippers.
This killing has disrupted a more than two-month period without murders in Trelawny. The parish has recorded 14 murders this year, compared to 11 during the same period last year. The increase is notable as Trelawny is the only parish in the Area One police region to see such a rise.
DSP Winston Milton, Commanding Officer for the Trelawny Division, indicated that the majority of murders in the parish are linked to unresolved disputes among individuals involved in illicit lottery scamming. “We are now in surge mode because the majority of these conflicts involve people engaged in illegal lottery scamming,” Milton said. He emphasized that the police’s current efforts are focused on conflict resolution with community stakeholders and targeted operational activities against lottery scammers and gangs.
DSP Milton further noted that specific communities are being targeted as part of their strategy to address the growing problem of illicit activities and their role in escalating violence and murders. “We are adamant that we are going to stem these acts and keep our place safe for residents,” he added.
The police are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to identify the deceased and determine the circumstances leading to his death. The ongoing investigations aim to provide clarity and prevent further incidents in the area.
