Erica Virtue, Staff Reporter
THE POLICE Force is the major beneficiary of dozens of high-priced cars which have entered the island illegally over the last five years in an alleged international racket.
The racket, which has been shut down according to local officials, resulted in a glut of the seized cars landing on the compound of the Revenue Protection Division (RPD).
As the pile-up escalated, several of the cars were at the forefront of international deliberations as different interest groups argued over who should pay the cost of sending them back to their country of origin.
After more than a year of indecision and refusals, the Finance Ministry said the vehicles should be given to the Police Force.
Last week, head of the RPD Mike Surridge, said a few were repatriated to the United States and Canada, but many which had been welded together were not because they did not meet overseas safety standards. They were subsequently abandoned here.
"There were a lot of cars here. There were deliberations as to what should happen to them. I was approached by the Finance Ministry, and a decision was taken that the vehicles should go to the Police," Mr. Surridge told The Sunday Gleaner.
While not being able to give the exact number given to the police, Mr. Surridge said that "all different types of vehicles were involved."
He said several of the vehicles were suitable for transporting dogs and were given to the Canine Division. The others were utilised by different departments of the Police Force.
Asked why the police were given preference, Mr. Surridge said a new department had been opened and was in need of vehicles. Some vehicles are also being used in undercover assignments.
Head of the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), Deputy Superintendent A. J. Forbes, confirmed that some of the vehicles from the RPD's compound are part of the Police Force's fleet, but said he could not confirm the terms of the agreement.
"The (police) commissioner announced a couple months ago that some vehicles were acquired from the RPD, the majority of about 30 were going to the Bureau of Special Investigations," Mr. Forbes said on Friday.
Mr. Forbes said other departments also received vehicles but he was not able to say how many. Asked if the vehicles were purchased, he repeated "acquired," but referred further comments to Shirley Byfield at the Ministry of National Security and Justice. Mrs. Byfield could not be contacted on Friday.
The Jamaica Labour Party Spokesman on Justice Delroy Chuck said the police's actions are legal.
"Goods which enter the country illegally can be used by the Crown," Mr. Chuck said on Friday. The transfer, he said, must be authorised by a representative of the Crown.
