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The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is urging people and businesses who face extortion to report it to the police instead of giving in to demands.
Detective Sergeant Grace Frazer-Lawrence from the JCF’s National Strategic Anti-Gang Division said many victims feel afraid, but police investigations do lead to arrests and prosecutions. She stressed that the justice system works with the police to tackle these crimes.
She explained that extortion is especially common in the transport industry, where drivers and operators are forced to pay so-called “fees” to work. Small businesses are also frequent targets. Victims may be pressured through fake “protection” offers, threatening letters, phone calls, text messages, or even WhatsApp death threats if they do not pay.
Detective Inspector Paulette Wynter-Crossfield added that extortion generates billions of dollars each year, with Spanish Town, St. Catherine being one of the hardest-hit areas.
She said past attempts to regulate the informal “backup men” who control loading of buses and taxis collapsed, and that real progress will require broad cooperation from all stakeholders.
Source: Jamaica GIS.
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