The information was revealed to The Times by sub-officer in charge of the Proactive Unit, Detective Sergeant Kirk Nicholls. The first operation was carried out in Ocho Rios on Tuesday, August 18 and was focused on the areas of Rexo Plaza, DaCosta Drive and the Ocho Rios market. The police seized 1,700 DVDs, 50 DVD cases, a quantity of cash and several knives.This seizure led to the arrest of two men. They are: 30-year-old Damion Henry, a mason of Pimento Walk, Ocho Rios, St. Ann and 31-year old Horace Ellis, a vendor of Mango Valley, St. Mary. Both men were charged for breaches of the Copyright Act and the Offensive Weapons Act. Both were offered station bail.A second operation was carried out in Ocho Rios on Friday, August 21. This operation was concentrated along DaCosta Drive, the Ocho Rios Market and on Island Plaza. The police seized 1,400 DVDs, 150 CDs, a quantity of cash and some knives. One man was charged. He is forty-two-year-old Warren Evans, a plumber of Steer Town, St. Ann. He was charged in relation to breaches of the Copyright Act and the Offensive Weapon Act. He was offered station bail.A third operation was carried out on Wednesday, August 26. This concentrated on the Ocho Rios Market (Farmers and clothes section), Ocho Rios Transport centre and the general town centre of Ocho Rios. The police seized 879 DVDs, 10 DVD cases, five knives and a quantity of cash. One man was arrested and charged for breaches of the Copyright Act. He is twenty-three-year-old Davarrow Mitchell, unemployed of Hafsizula Lane, Annotto Bay, St. Mary. He was offered station bail.All of the accused men, that were arrested and charged in these operations, are expected to appear in court in October.Detective Sergeant Kirk Nicholls noted that certain intelligence information has been received that proceeds of the sale of DVDs and CDs are being used to finance criminal activities in the underworld. He said that the St. Ann Proactive Unit will be carrying out further operations in areas of St. Ann such as St. Ann’s Bay and Brown’s Town where the sale of these items are popular.
