The Portland police are seeking help from Cuban authorities to locate a group of Indian store operators, who allegedly fleeced local consumers of thousands of dollars last month.

A police report is suggesting that the Indian immigrants, who operated three furniture and appliance stores in Port Antonio, fled the island overnight some weeks ago with a substantial amount of money paid to them for furniture and electrical appliances in layaway and hire-purchase agreements.

The police said that their investigation has revealed that the immigrants have fled to Cuba after they allegedly collected money from more than 20 consumers.

According to the police, consumers deposited as much as $10,000 as first-time deposits as part of layaway agreements on various items, including televisions, laptops, desk computers, fridges, sofas, component sets, beds, stoves and washing machines.

According to the lawmen, some consumers had already paid as much as $40,000 on some items, and were in the process of closing their accounts.

The police explained that layaway payment stipulates that all accounts are to be settled after three months following the first deposit, but some customers who turned up to make final payments found the doors to the stores padlocked and chained.

The authorities went on to explain that the matter was only reported to them after the store remained closed for more than a week, giving the operators time to escape.

The police say receipts received from consumers have indicated that approximately $750,000 was collected by the store operators, who also owed more than three months in rent to owners of the building.