Three Arrested in St Mary for Lottery Scamming, Illegal Weapons, and Uncustomed Goods

ST MARY, Jamaica — A joint police-military operation in St Mary led to the arrest of three individuals on Sunday after authorities allegedly discovered lottery scamming paraphernalia, illegal weapons, and uncustomed goods.

The individuals charged are:

• Alex Robinson, 22, of Almond Tree, Gayle, who faces charges of possession of identity information.

• Kera Sterling, 46, of Bailey’s Vale, who is charged with possession of an offensive weapon.

• Donovan Olphinant, 59, also of Bailey’s Vale, charged with possession of uncustomed goods.

The police have yet to announce their court dates, which are currently being arranged.

According to the St Mary Police, the arrests stem from a targeted operation conducted across multiple communities, including Bailey’s Vale, Gayle, Oracabessa, and Port Maria. Law enforcement officers carried out premises searches and roadblock operations in an effort to disrupt criminal activities in the area.

During the operation, officers issued 36 tickets for breaches of the Road Traffic Act and seized six motor vehicles.

Following their arrests, the three accused were formally charged after interviews were conducted in the presence of their attorneys.

Authorities have not disclosed further details about the seized items, but they reaffirmed their commitment to tackling organized crime, including lottery scamming, firearms offenses, and customs violations.

Jamaican authorities have intensified their crackdown on lottery scamming, which has been linked to financial fraud, identity theft, and violent crime. The St Mary operation is the latest in a series of law enforcement efforts to dismantle these networks.

Investigations are ongoing, and police say additional arrests could follow as they continue their probe into illicit activities in the parish.