Four Chinese nationals were taken into custody yesterday as the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) continues its crackdown on the lucrative counterfeit cigarette trade.

The police say a large amount of cash, counterfeit cigarettes, batteries, knapsacks and bleaching cream were seized during an operation at a premises in the upscale community of Russell Heights in St Andrew.

Head of the Constabulary Communication Network, Inspector Steve Brown, said that those in custody are to face criminal charges.

According to him, the operation which was done around 7 a.m. at Louisville Road in the community, subsequently led the police to two wholesale stores operated by the Chinese nationals in downtown Kingston. At those locations, it is said that another large quantity of counterfeit goods were found.

Yesterday's operation follows one of a similar nature last week in which the OCID raided a home on Shenstone Drive in Beverly Hills, St Andrew, and seized over $15 million in cash and counterfeit items.

Two men are currently facing the courts in connection with that incident.