DETECTIVES AT the Kingston Central Criminal Investigative Branch are questioning a member of the 'Tel-Aviv' gang in connection with an extortion racket in downtown Kingston.
The gang operates between Maiden Lane and East Street in Central Kingston. Reports are that the suspect went to 60 East Queen Street, Kingston where construction work was underway and demanded a cut of each worker's wages.
Allegations are that the man turned up at the work site last week and gave orders that the persons in charge should deduct $500 from the pay packet of each labourer employed on the project, and $1,000 from each skilled labourer. The amount should be paid over to him on demand.
A sub-officer at the Kingston Central CIB who spoke with The Gleaner said the man is yet to be charged. The police over the past decade have been trying to put a dent in the operation of extortionists in downtown Kingston.
Allegations are that vendors, both on the sidewalk and inside the markets, pay a weekly fee every Thursday to turf bosses, while store owners pay up monthly. The money is collected by rival gang members operating in the downtown Kingston area.
