With the police stepping up their operations in the volatile Flankers community in St James in recent months, THE STAR has been reliably informed that several gunmen have fled to neighbouring islands, fearing their lives.

Information reaching THE STAR is that a number of thugs have started taking to other islands such as Antigua andBahamas, while others have fancied Curacao as a cool spot in response to the increased heat they have come under from the police. Several 'shottas' have been killed and others injured in the community in separate incidents since late last year.

"Dem start run weh from de police dem kill O.B. (a known gangster) last month," a source told this newspaper. "He was one a de thug dem from Pele Drive. Since den, man pack up and run gone a Curacao."

The source disclosed that despite the obvious upsurge in violence, many believe that the shottas have gained a more prominent place under the police's cross hairs microscope since the January 12 shooting of two men in a section of the community known as Church Hill.

"Argument have it say one a de yute dem wha get shot inna dat incident is a policeman son," the source said. "So dat is why de police a pressure dem so because even de yute wha dem kill last week, 'Beenie Fabulous', talk a go round say him did involve in dat shooting."

prominent figure

While that information could not be confirmed by the police, whether or not the son of a policeman was shot in the January 12 incident or if Adrian 'Beenie Fabulous' Callam, was involved in it, they did, however, note that he was a prominent figure in the 'One Order' gang operating in Flankers. He was killed in a shoot-out with the police on February 23. Reports say a 9mm pistol was taken from him.

Speaking with THE STAR yesterday, commanding officer for St James, Superintendent Merrick Watson, said that the police had in fact received information that men from the community were fleeing for neighbouring islands in light of the force's increased 'operational efforts'.

The information they have received, however, pointed only to Antigua and The Bahamas so far but not Curacao.

Supt Watson said that the issue with the 'island-hopping' thugs was that many of them did not leave the country through the major ports.

"They tend to leave by sea ... sometimes when some of them are picked up they have island fisheries I.D. which means they are posing as fishermen at sea," the officer said.

As for those who may have successfully made the trip to their Caribbean destination, Watson said that locating them may pose a challenge, as there are no formal records of their presence in those countries since they did not arrive through the legal ports.

The commanding officer said that information have also revealed that the thugs are not only fleeing to other Caribbean destinations but are also seeking havens in other parishes as the police have picked up people as far away as Portland.