MOCA searching homes, other locations linked to senior cops from disbanded C-TOC

Law enforcement authorities are now conducting a series of search operations at the homes and other places linked to at least two high-ranking police officers who were assigned to the disbanded Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Division (C-TOC), multiple sources have revealed.

The operations, which are being led by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), began at the St Andrew home of a police superintendent and continued throughout the day with secondary operations at various locations in the Corporate Area, according to sources.

The superintendent was reportedly placed in handcuffs during the search.

The operations are related to the unauthorised parcels of cocaine that were found at C-TOC headquarters in January this year, multiple sources revealed.

MOCA confirmed late Wednesday that its agents are currently engaged in a series of operations to execute “search and seizure warrants at a number of locations across the Corporate Area as part of an ongoing investigation”.

However, Major Basil Jarrett, director of communications at MOCA, declined to divulge information about the investigation and the operations.

“Due to the sensitive nature of the investigations and today’s operations, I am unable to divulge any additional details, except to say that the public will be apprised of more as soon as we are in a position to safely and responsibly do so,” Jarrett told The Gleaner.

In January, the police reported that an audit of C-TOC uncovered two illegal parcels of cocaine inside storage facilities there.

The audit of C-TOC’s storage facilities was triggered by the arrest of Police Inspector Martin Walker, who is also attached to C-TOC, the Jamaica Constabulary Force said in a statement at the time.

It is alleged that a quantity of cocaine was found in Walker’s private vehicle during an operation on January 8.

Weeks later, the entire division was disbanded by Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake, and the more than 40 policemen and women assigned there were transferred to other police divisions.

More details to come.

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