Two arrested and millions seized in anti-lottery scamming operation in Portmore

The police are reporting that two people were arrested early Tuesday morning in Caribbean Estate in Portmore, St Catherine during an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected lottery scamming activities.

In custody are a 32-year-old man who is employed as a treasury custodian at courier company Beryllium and his 32-year-old common-law spouse, who is a former employee of the company.

The operation was carried out by a team of officers from the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (CTOC) and the St Catherine South Division.

The police say during the search of the property, law enforcement officials seized over J$64 million, USD$317,000, £11,550 and other currencies.

Two firearms – a Beretta BU9 compact nine millimetre pistol with five rounds of ammunition and a Taurus nine millimetre pistol with a magazine but no rounds - were also recovered.

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The police also confiscated four motor vehicles valued at approximately J$17 million, as well as six mobile phones.

Investigations are ongoing.