Three people arrested in MOCA anti-lottery scamming raids in Corporate Area

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) is reporting that three people, two men and one woman, were this morning arrested during a series of coordinated anti-lottery scamming operations at upscale apartment complexes in the Corporate Area.

MOCA says they are expected to be charged with breaches of the Law Reform Act.

The agency’s Director of Communications, Major Basil Jarrett, said MOCA agents, supported by officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), went to two premises in Belvedere, St Andrew, and one in Perkins Estate, Kingston, at approximately 5:00 a.m. today to execute arrest warrants for three persons believed to be involved in lottery scamming activities.

According to MOCA, the suspects are alleged to be members of an organised crime syndicate conducting lottery scamming operations from the two upscale Belvedere properties.

The agency said it seized a number of evidentiary items.

Jarrett stated that in recent times, MOCA has detected an increase in criminal activities, particularly lottery scamming, being conducted from private, upscale residences such as the apartment complex in Belvedere.

“We believe that criminals have been targeting these rental properties due to the quiet cover they provide, and so we are once again urging renters and owners to be particularly vigilant when renting these properties,” said Jarrett.

Jarrett said this morning’s arrests demonstrate the strength of MOCA’s collaboration and coordination with its JCF partners.

MOCA said the suspects are being held at Constant Spring and Red Hills police stations.

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