The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is calling on businesses and individuals who have been targeted by extortionists to report incidents to the police, stressing that working with law enforcement can lead to prosecutions and help prevent further harm.
Detective Sergeant Grace Frazer-Lawrence of the JCF’s National Strategic Anti-Gang Division highlighted the prevalence of extortion in the transport industry, where operators are often forced to pay repeated fees or “taxes” to continue their work. She noted that small business owners are also frequent targets.
“Persons may be asked for protection from certain criminal elements, when they are indeed the said criminal elements,” Detective Sergeant Frazer-Lawrence explained on the Force4Good Podcast, a JCF initiative aimed at raising awareness of issues affecting Jamaicans. “They may receive letters, threats, phone calls, texts, or WhatsApp messages demanding payment under threat of harm.”
Detective Inspector Paulette Wynter-Crossfield, Station Manager at the National Strategic Anti-Gang Division, said the money generated from extortion can amount to billions of dollars annually. She added that while the problem exists islandwide, it is particularly pronounced in areas such as Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
Efforts to curb extortion, including past attempts to regulate so-called “backup men” in transport hubs, have met with limited success, Wynter-Crossfield said, emphasizing the need for cooperation from all stakeholders to make lasting change.
The JCF urges anyone approached by extortionists to come forward promptly and work with police, assuring that measures are in place to help protect victims.
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