THE STAR has confirmed that extortionists are continuing to make demands on businessmen downtown, despite moves by the security forces to disrupt the gang which operates out of Tivoli Gardens.

Gangsters from Tivoli Gardens, which was previously under the influence of area leader Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, controlled the major extortion racket downtown with business operators and market vendors being forced to pay protection money each week.

The police were expecting that with the incursion into the community last week and 'Dudus' and his key lieutenants on the run, that the extortion would slow if not stop altogether.

But yesterday, a business operator told THE STAR that he had received a call from a man known to be close to 'Dudus' demanding that the weekly extortion payment be made this Friday as usual. The businessman stated that he had previously been forced to pay $20,000 weekly to the thugs as part of the racket.

This is worrying for acting Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Crime, Glenmore Hinds.

He is urging business operators and others who face demands from the criminals to report the matter to the police and not give in.

"We believe that extortion is a revenue stream that must be attacked and it is important, more so at this time, that persons who are approached call us and allow us to deal with it," Hinds said. "Extortion is one of the revenue streams that the gangs will depend on to finance their criminal activities and we need to stamp it out."