Two Arrested in $100 Million Seizure Linked to Beryllium

Portmore, St. Catherine — Two individuals connected to the armoured carrier company Beryllium were arrested on Tuesday following the seizure of over $100 million in a gated community in Caribbean Estates, Portmore.

The suspects, both aged 32, include a treasury custodian currently employed by Beryllium and his common-law spouse, who is a former employee of the company. Their arrest marks a troubling chapter for Beryllium, which has faced a series of armed robberies targeting its cash-in-transit teams, with robbers frequently making off with large sums of cash.

The recent spate of attacks has often involved violent confrontations, particularly at automated banking machines (ABMs), and has occurred in various major town centres, including Portmore, Mandeville, and Negril. The most notable incident occurred in July, when police fatally shot four men during an attempted heist in Negril.

During Tuesday’s operation, authorities seized more than JM $64 million, over US $300,000, and £11,000 from the suspects’ residence, raising serious concerns about the couple’s involvement in illicit activities.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Anthony McLaughlin, head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC), confirmed that the couple will be charged with lottery scamming. He highlighted a disturbing trend, noting a notable increase in lottery scammers utilizing firearms in their operations.

The investigation into this substantial seizure will be a collaborative effort involving the Financial Investigations Division, the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, and the US Embassy.

Authorities continue to address the growing menace of lottery scamming, which poses a significant threat to public safety and financial integrity in Jamaica.