Turtle Killers Arrested And Charged

The men observed on a video killing a turtle in 9 Miles Bull Bay, in St Andrew on June 6, 2018, have been arrested and charged for breaches under the Wildlife Protection Act. The arrest was made during a recent joint police operation, conducted by officials from the Counter Terrorism & Organized Crime Investigation's (C-TOC), the Mobile Reserve and the Motorized Patrol Division in the parish. The men have been granted bail with surety in the sum of $100,000 and are scheduled to appear in the Half Way Tree Parish Court on August 22, 2018.

Morjorn Wallock, Director, Legal & Enforcement, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) commended the high level investigation undertaken by C-TOC's Counter Terrorism Special Investigation Unit, and the Kingston Eastern police.

She said, "NEPA is pleased with the hard work that C-TOC has done to guarantee a prosecution of the matter." She stressed, "we will continue to be vigilant and take strong enforcement action against any individual that harms any of Jamaica's protected species, and breaches the nation's environmental and planning laws."

Ms Wallock explained that if the men are found guilty, they will be liable to a maximum fine of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or face a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months."

The public is encouraged to continue to report potential breaches of Jamaica's environmental and planning laws by calling NEPA at (876) 754-7540 or toll-free (888) 991-5005.