Jamaica Gleaner

Seven extradited to US since start of 2018

- Paul Clarke/Gleaner Writer paul.clarke@gleanerjm.com

SEVEN WANTED persons have been apprehende­d and extradited from Jamaica to the United States (US) since the star t of the year. These individual­s are wanted in the US for various offences, including lottery scamming, assault, drug traffickin­g and sexual crimes.

The extraditio­ns are the collaborat­ive efforts of the Jamaica Constabula­ry Force (JCF) and the United States government through the Department of Justice, which have worked to strengthen their partnershi­p. Three of the seven who were extradited were charged with lottery scam-related charges.

Meanwhile, the JCF’s Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch (C-TOC) Fugitive Apprehensi­on Team was recognised by the US attorney for the District of North Dakota at a ceremony in Bismarck, North Dakota, on March 15. Detective Woman Corporal Nashema Newell received the awards on behalf of her Jamaican law-enforcemen­t colleagues. This augurs well for the continued relationsh­ip between the two countries, according to C-TOC head, Assistant Commission­er of Police Fitz Bailey.

“We continue having a strong relationsh­ip with our counterpar­ts in the US, and this acknowledg­ement, by awarding us, shows that we are appreciate­d. Our good works are being recognised and the collaborat­ion is certain,” Bailey said.

“We have extradited a number of people over the years and, as a small nation, we are proud that our local police personnel are reaping the benefit of hard work and a commitment to law and order in Jamaica,” said Bailey.

The Fugitive Apprehensi­on Team was responsibl­e for the apprehensi­on of 14 defendants who were involved in transnatio­nal organised crime associated with lotter y scamming. They were ultimately extradited to stand trial in the United States.

 ??  ?? From left: FBI Special Agent Frank Gasper, Assistant United States Attorney Claire Hochhalter, Detective Woman Corporal Nashema Newell, Assistant United States Attorney James Thomas, and United States Marshal Dan Orr.
From left: FBI Special Agent Frank Gasper, Assistant United States Attorney Claire Hochhalter, Detective Woman Corporal Nashema Newell, Assistant United States Attorney James Thomas, and United States Marshal Dan Orr.

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