Stephanie Coleman, Gleaner Writer
POSSESSION OF illegal firearm accounted for 32 per cent of the 42 arrests made through Crime Stop in 2005.
Drugs and murder, which account for the lion's share of Jamaica's crime problem, received a hearty blow with 24 per cent of the arrests being drug related and 10 per cent of the calls leading to the capture of murderers. Four persons were arrested in connection with stolen motor vehicles, while 12 vehicles were recovered during the year.
HIGH POWERED RIFLES
Among the 23 illegal firearms seized through the intelligence driven, anti-crime initiative were two high powered rifles, one submachine gun, and 11 semi automatic pistols. The drug trade hit a speed bump when Crime Stop information led to the seizure and destruction of more than $14 million worth of narcotics. Seven hectares of ganja were burned along with the seizure of more than 75,000 seedlings and 260 kilogrammes of cured ganja.
Praedial larceny did not escape the Crime Stop dragnet as six stolen goats were recovered and the two men responsible for the theft were detained.
Most of the 501 calls made to the crime fighters provided information on illegal firearms, wanted men, gunmen and other illegal activities.
However, drugs and murder, which claim hundreds of lives annually, still remain critically under reported as they accounted for only seven and six per cent of calls respectively.
Most of the more than $1.2 million in rewards was paid out for information received about illegal firearms, murder, and drugs.
