A large contingent of police officers was deployed to Quickstep at the border of Trelawny and St. Elizabeth yesterday, to provide security support to Forestry Department employees who were continuing lumber recovery activities, after their work was reportedly impeded on Friday. 

The forestry workers had responded to a reported illegal logging operation, in the Cockpit Country forest reserve area last week, when more than 200 community members and the illegal loggers reportedly impeded them from carrying out their duties.

Police say seven of the employees, who were recovering illegally-harvested Blue Mahoe, Jamaican Mahogany, and the Bitter Wood Tree lumber were marooned and stoned. 

They were rescued more than 24 hours later.

Head of the St. Elizabeth Police Superintendent Coleridge Minto said with the support of the lawmen, the workers returned to Quickstep to continue their duties yesterday.

The workers were seeking to recover over 500 pieces of lumber.

Operations Officer for the Area 3 Headquarters, Superintendent David White, said the police mission was aimed at maintaining peace in the community and preventing an attack on members of the Forestry Department.