7 arrested, assets seized in raid on illegal petrol outlet in MoBay 

A joint police/military team seized approximately 5,000 litres of gasoline and arrested seven men in Montego Bay, St James on Friday, as they clamped down on an illicit petrol sale operation.

Reports are that about 2:00 p.m., during a special operation at a number of locations along Bay Road and Pimento Way in Montego Bay, the security forces observed several men conducting the illegal petrol trade from makeshift gas pumps.

The men were accosted and 50 barrels containing petrol were seized, as well as $200,000, which is believed to have been from the proceeds of the petrol sales.

Also, a number of motor vehicles which were at the location, for which the ownership of each could not be ascertained, were removed by the security forces.

The street value of the seized petrol is approximately $750,000.

The identities of the men have been withheld pending charges being laid against them for breaches of the Petroleum Act.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Thursday announced that the parish of St James has been placed under a public state of emergency, which gives the security forces wide powers to clamp down on illegal acts there.