The police have launched investigations into reported theft of Mahogany Lumber, abduction and obstruction of Forestry Department agents, arising from a dramatic incident which unfolded between Friday and Saturday near Accompong, St. Elizabeth.
The police say they will continue to update the public on the progress of the investigations and actions.
Meantime, the Forestry Department has given its account of the events that unfolded when its team responded to a reported illegal logging operation on Friday, in the Cockpit Country forest reserve area near Quickstep, Trelawny.
In a release today, the department said it aims to provide an accurate account of the events and address the misleading and false narrative circulating on social media.
According to the department, when its team responded to the report it was impeded in conducting its lawful duties by more than 200 community members and the illegal loggers.
It said on Thursday afternoon, forest rangers from the agency identified an extensive illegal timber harvesting operation in Lewis Patent, in the Cockpit Country Forest Reserve.
Upon receiving this report, the agency said it dispatched a team at about 7 A.M., on Friday to seize the illegally harvested timber.
The department said a truck loaded with lumber was seen leaving the area before their arrival.
It said upon arrival, the team discovered significant illegal harvesting activities, including the cutting and conversion of several Jamaican Mahogany trees into lumber.
It said more than 500 pieces of lumber were located at multiple points along trails within the reserve.
The department said when the team loaded the lumber, their exit was blocked as trees and boulders were used to obstruct the road.
It said the team contacted the head office and a secondary team was dispatched, coordinating with the police for their release.
Around 10 P.M., the secondary team, along with eight police officers in three service vehicles, attempted to clear the blockage, but were met with resistance as stones were thrown at them from the surrounding hills.
Both teams were forced to spend the night on-site awaiting further assistance.
At approximately 5:30 A.M., on Saturday a Jamaica Defence Force team arrived, providing the necessary support to retrieve the agency personnel by 8 A.M.
However the vehicles were left behind pending additional state resources.
It said with the combined efforts of the police, the JDF and Fire Brigade, all state officers and equipment were eventually retrieved.
The department noted that a convoy attempted to depart the area around 5:30 P.M. On Saturday, however, it was again impeded in quickstep square by a group of residents, who the department said attempted to illegally claim the seized lumber and obstruct the police.
However, the department reported that the superintendent on site successfully ensured the safe departure of the Forestry Department personnel and the evidence, which has been secured in Kingston for further investigation.
