LOCAL FRAUD Squad detectives and the United States Secret Service have cracked what is suspected to be a major counterfeit ring operating in the Corporate Area. The seizure of US$105,320 (J$4.4 million) and J$73,500 and the arrest of three men, one 66 years old, took place on Thursday during a raid on premises at Beechwood Avenue, Kingston, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) said. The breakthrough has been lauded by the United States Em-bassy in Kingston.
Counterfeit notes bearing serial number AE918799389B were reportedly found in the possession of the senior citizen, Kenrick Roberts. A car he was reported to have been driving was searched and 147 Jamaican $500 counterfeit notes along with just under a kilogram of ganja found in the vehicle.
The CCN said the police then took the man to his home in the Stony Hill area of St. Andrew where 784 US counterfeit $100 notes with serial number AE918799388B, along with 88 US counterfeit $20 notes, were seized. Further investigations the police said, resulted in the arrest of the three men implicated in the seizure. They are Kenrick Roberts, Altimon Brown and Vincent Atkins who was found in possession of two US$20 counterfeit notes.
The Fraud Squad is continuing its investigation.
In a press release yesterday, the US Embassy pointed to the co-operation between the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the US Secret Service. It noted as "even more significant" than the seizure of the currency, the seizure of a large number of negatives for both US and Jamaican currencies. Deputy Chief of Mission, James Ca-son, praised the close co-operation of the local police and the US Secret Service and noted that the two countries enjoy an excellent relationship in the area of law enforcement.
The Embassy said the Secret Service was charged with the detection and arrest of any person committing any offence against the laws of the United States relating to coins, currency, stamps, Government bonds, cheques, credit/debt card fraud, computer fraud, false identification crimes and other obligations or securities of the United States. It is also responsible for protecting the President and Vice-President of the United States.
