Reputed female gang leader ‘Toots’ nabbed in MoBay
Published:Wednesday | October 8, 2025 | 12:09 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The business community in Montego Bay, St James, is expressing relief following the arrest of reputed female gang leader only known as ‘Toots’ and six of her alleged associates. The seven were apprehended under the St James Police Division’s ongoing crime-fighting initiative Operation End Game.
The police believe that Toots and her syndicate were behind a string of robberies across downtown Montego Bay. The group was intercepted on Sunday night during a targeted police operation at Dome Street following two robberies in the township.
“The capture of Toots marks a significant blow to organised robbery operations in the parish and sends a clear message that law enforcement is determined to restore public safety,” said Linroy Edwards, head of operations in the St James Police Division.
Edwards revealed that the Toyota Axio vehicle used in the crimes was recovered, along with several rounds of ammunition, ski masks, and a number of cellular phones suspected to have been stolen.
“This was an intelligence-led strike, and it sends a strong message that no one – no matter how notorious – will escape justice,” he warned.
OVER 30 ARRESTS
Since Operation End Game was launched on October 1, the police have arrested more than 30 people for crimes such as robbery, larceny, sexual assault, drug trafficking, and breaches of public order.
Toots and her associates are expected to face identification parades before being brought before the parish court to answer charges.
Beyond the crime statistics, the psychological and economic impact of the arrests is being felt across Montego Bay, particularly in the downtown business district.
Jason Russell, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described the development as “a lifting of the crime fog that has plagued Montego Bay for more than a decade”.
“We’ve been feeling this lifting of the crime fog that’s hung over Montego Bay. For years, business owners lived with fear, wondering if we’d be robbed or killed by the end of the day. Now, we’re starting to feel like we’re taking back the society from the criminal elements,” Russell told The Gleaner.
He added that the difference was already visible in the downtown business district, which, at one point, lay bare.
“When you look at downtown now, it looks a lot different than it did five or 10 years ago. Back then, downtown felt like a ghost town. Now, customers are returning, businesses are staying open later, and you can see people enjoying the space again,” said Russell.
He also praised the Jamaica Constabulary Force for restoring confidence in local communities by granting event permits in once-volatile areas such as Flankers.