Cops crippling Sparta gang - Several gangsters in custody, some giving information

Following last Thursday's shooting incident in Montego Bay, St James, in which three men, who are said to be major players in the Flanker-based Uptown Sparta gang, were apprehended, the police say they are now well on course to dismantling the gang.

Two Glock 34 pistols were also seized after Thursday's shoot-out. The latest arrests bring to seven the number of alleged gangsters the police have apprehended in connection with the deadly gang-related violence which has been plaguing Flanker.

"We have been getting amazing intelligence and we now believe we have a clear picture of what has been going on in the community and the persons who have been driving the violence, which we have linked to violent incidents in Washington Boulevard, downtown Kingston and Mountain View in the Corporate Area," a police source told THE STAR. "We have also managed to establish a link between the violence and the entertainment fraternity as a man, who engaged the police in last Thursday's shooting, was subsequently held at a recording studio in Ironshore, which we have linked to the Uptown Sparta gang.

Thwart several plans

In speaking to the intelligence being generated from persons now in police custody, the source said the information may have saved several lives in recent weeks, as the police have managed to thwart several plans by the gang, including last Thursday's incident, in which the gangsters ran into the police while reportedly on their way to carrying out a hit.

"Within recent weeks, when they show up at various locations, we are usually there waiting on them. The challenge is they are not surrendering and this has led to several shoot-outs," the lawman said.

The police source also revealed that with several key players now in custody, they have received credible information that a man who is wanted for multiple murders by the St James police, has taken over the leadership of the gang.

"We have information that he has given orders for the police to be shot at on sight and that for gangsters to fire on the Jamaica Defence Force base, which is on the outskirts of Flanker," the source told THE STAR. "We are taking the intelligence that we are getting serious as our statistics have linked this gang to 43 murders since 2015."