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- Gangs collecting big bucks for use of their weapons <DIV class=KonaBody yJQdZ="true">
By Fabian Ledgister, Staff Reporter
A thriving business is emerging among local criminals where guns are being rented to commit acts of robbery and even murder.
The practice has been uncovered to be on the rise in Spanish Town and Portmore, due to what sources say is a 'pile up' of weaponry among crime bosses.
THE STAR contacted a member of a rogue faction of the Clansman gang in Spanish Town, who confirmed that the activity is a lucrative business, where depending on the type and cost of the weaponry, rental prices may vary.
"From three gran' ($3,000) to all ten gran' ($10,000), gun can get fi borrow man...a mostly ol' revolver di robba dem come fa a Christmas time like .38. Wi nuh rent gun gi Showa man (JLP aligned) or man wi nuh know, an dem afi a guh out a port (outside community) fi rob caa wi na mash up wi place," said the member of the gang.
He says that not only are the guns available for rental, but that bullets can also be 'borrowed' on consignment.
"The gun dem can load up or empty man, an if dem nuh wa shot nobody, a money can run back fi di shot weh dem nuh use...bout six gran ($6000) fi a box a 50 shot, suh wi leggo a shot fi dolla fifty ($150), an whe nuh use wi buy back," said the gang member.
The rental scheme among criminals, is also being heavily practised in Portmore. According to a resident of the 'Sunshine City,' the increased practice is due to drug busts leaving criminal entities in financial duress, as well as increased financial demands in the Yuletide season.
"Di man dem hungry. Christmas deh yah, gun dem a get nuff and new gun a come in, so man dem a rent out di ting dem to people ina dem link fi keep up dem wrongs," said the Portmore resident.
Although officers from Spanish Town say they are oblivious to the practice, Portmore police are well aware, and have been making serious strides to eliminate the menacing practice.
Portmore's top cop, Superintendent Terrence Bent, head of the St. Catherine South Division, says that although they have not identified specific regions or gang entities that facilitate the gun rentals, their intelligence has highlighted the activity, especially in cases of robberies.
"We have no concrete evidence on this illegal enterprise but the scenario is real and I will not dispel it...firearms have been lent out for people to rob and if they get say $20,000, some of the money is handed over to the owner of the gun along with the gun. I have heard of serious feuds coming from these rented guns not being returned," said Supt. Bent.
Bent assured that his division is aggressively policing the increasing gun activities is his division, which is reflected in the significant rise in gun recoveries, this year.
"I hesitate to say that more guns are coming in, but there is definitely a steady gun supply being met to criminal entities, you can look at Wednesday's find in St. Elizabeth (eight AK47 rifles, one .38 revolver and a .357 Magnum seized)...we have a 50 per cent increase in guns being recovered this year, when compared to last year's figures," said Bent.
According to police statistics 69 guns have been recovered so far this year in the Portmore division, compared to only 45 guns being recovered in the same period last year.</DIV>
By Fabian Ledgister, Staff Reporter
A thriving business is emerging among local criminals where guns are being rented to commit acts of robbery and even murder.
The practice has been uncovered to be on the rise in Spanish Town and Portmore, due to what sources say is a 'pile up' of weaponry among crime bosses.
THE STAR contacted a member of a rogue faction of the Clansman gang in Spanish Town, who confirmed that the activity is a lucrative business, where depending on the type and cost of the weaponry, rental prices may vary.
"From three gran' ($3,000) to all ten gran' ($10,000), gun can get fi borrow man...a mostly ol' revolver di robba dem come fa a Christmas time like .38. Wi nuh rent gun gi Showa man (JLP aligned) or man wi nuh know, an dem afi a guh out a port (outside community) fi rob caa wi na mash up wi place," said the member of the gang.
He says that not only are the guns available for rental, but that bullets can also be 'borrowed' on consignment.
"The gun dem can load up or empty man, an if dem nuh wa shot nobody, a money can run back fi di shot weh dem nuh use...bout six gran ($6000) fi a box a 50 shot, suh wi leggo a shot fi dolla fifty ($150), an whe nuh use wi buy back," said the gang member.
The rental scheme among criminals, is also being heavily practised in Portmore. According to a resident of the 'Sunshine City,' the increased practice is due to drug busts leaving criminal entities in financial duress, as well as increased financial demands in the Yuletide season.
"Di man dem hungry. Christmas deh yah, gun dem a get nuff and new gun a come in, so man dem a rent out di ting dem to people ina dem link fi keep up dem wrongs," said the Portmore resident.
Although officers from Spanish Town say they are oblivious to the practice, Portmore police are well aware, and have been making serious strides to eliminate the menacing practice.
Portmore's top cop, Superintendent Terrence Bent, head of the St. Catherine South Division, says that although they have not identified specific regions or gang entities that facilitate the gun rentals, their intelligence has highlighted the activity, especially in cases of robberies.
"We have no concrete evidence on this illegal enterprise but the scenario is real and I will not dispel it...firearms have been lent out for people to rob and if they get say $20,000, some of the money is handed over to the owner of the gun along with the gun. I have heard of serious feuds coming from these rented guns not being returned," said Supt. Bent.
Bent assured that his division is aggressively policing the increasing gun activities is his division, which is reflected in the significant rise in gun recoveries, this year.
"I hesitate to say that more guns are coming in, but there is definitely a steady gun supply being met to criminal entities, you can look at Wednesday's find in St. Elizabeth (eight AK47 rifles, one .38 revolver and a .357 Magnum seized)...we have a 50 per cent increase in guns being recovered this year, when compared to last year's figures," said Bent.
According to police statistics 69 guns have been recovered so far this year in the Portmore division, compared to only 45 guns being recovered in the same period last year.</DIV>