Twenty people including five foreign nationals were taken into custody during a major police cordon and search operation across several communities in Ocho Rios, St. Ann on Friday.

The operation took place between 3:30 and 11:00 A.M., covering Beecher Town, Great Pond and Mansfield Heights and saw searches of 19 premises.

Police say five foreign nationals were arrested for suspected immigration breaches.

Two are from Dominica, two from Haiti and one from Nigeria.

The other 15 men were apprehended in connection with criminal activities in the targeted areas.

The operation was led by the St. Ann Police, supported by 80 personnel from the area Fugitive Apprehension Team, the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), Canine Units and Specialized Operations.

Head of the St. Ann Police, Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell said the operation aimed to apprehend wanted persons, recover illegal weapons, seize drugs, conduct vehicle checkpoints, locate immigrants, carry out snap raids on commercial establishments and increase security presence.

Meanwhile, three stop-and-search exercises were conducted along the exchange and Beecher Town main roads resulting in one arrest.

Later, a snap raid in exchange saw 50 people searched and two more arrested on warrants.

Police say the objectives of the operation were achieved, with a saturated presence and intelligence gathered to support future operations.

The areas will continue to be monitored, through increased patrols and follow-up operations will be conducted based on the information collected.