WESTERN BUREAU:
SENIOR INVESTIGATORS have launched a top-level probe into reports of corruption by a group of Montego Bay policemen, stemming from an incident at Sign, Irwin in St. James earlier this month.
A highly-placed police source said yesterday that the cops reportedly collected US$50,000 (J$3 million) for the release of a man they detained in a 'staged raid', claiming the United States authorities wanted him on drug charges.
"The matter is being handled by a team of detectives in Kingston. The names of the policemen implicated have been called and we are investigating their activities," the source explained.
The Gleaner was told that members of a police party went to the Sign, Irwin area on Thursday, May 12, under the guise of conducting a raid and held the popular businessman. A deal was reportedly brokered and money was paid over to the lawmen. It was later discovered that no such warrant was out for the businessman.
COLLEAGUE NABBED
The businessman went into hiding last year after narcotics agents nabbed his colleague on an extradition warrant to face drug smuggling and money laundering charges in the U.S.
Since March 2004, the city of Montego Bay has been the focus of attention by international law enforcement officers after local narcotic agents, in collaboration with U.S. and British narcotics agents, arrested several prominent businessmen wanted for their alleged involvement in the illicit drug trade.
The accused men arrested on extradition warrants to face drug smuggling charges in the U.S. include Leebert Ramcharan, operator of the Caribbean Showplace and Caribbean Beach Park; garage operator Donovan 'Plucky' Williams; Robroy 'Spy' Williams, the owner of popular sound system Jah Creation; Vivian Dalley; Hartford 'Bruckie' Montaque and Presley 'Pressa' Bingham.
Ramcharan has since been designated a 'drug kingpin' by U.S. President George W. Bush along with St. Ann businessman, Norris 'Deedo' Nemhard, who is also in police custody.
