JCF agricultural unit tops 400 farm-crime arrests in first year of operations

Arrests tied to agricultural offences have climbed sharply in the first year of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Agricultural Protection Branch (APB), according to figures released by the Government.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green outlined the results while speaking at the recent launch of the Heifer Redistribution programme, held at Serge Island Dairies in St Thomas.

The APB began work in June 2025 as a specialised JCF unit set up to tackle praedial larceny, defend farmers’ livelihoods, and strengthen national food security.

“A year before, we arrested about 120 people around agricultural crime. One year since we've had the Agricultural Protection Branch, that number has moved to over 400 people arrested for agricultural crime,” Minister Green said.

He said court outcomes have improved alongside the higher arrest totals. “Arrests sound good, but convictions sound better, and the biggest thing that we've seen… we have dedicated investigators who are preparing these cases to go to court. The year before the Agriculture Protection Branch, we had 18 convictions around agricultural-related crime. Last year, since the operation of the branch – 120 convictions,” he informed.

Green commended the JCF for establishing a team focused on offences against the sector. He said producers in parishes including Trelawny are already seeing a drop in farm theft. He also pointed to stiffer penalties for agricultural crimes and said the ministry remains in talks with the force to bring the agricultural wardens programme fully on stream.

“So, in the areas where we have significant issues, we will have more people to treat with these agricultural crimes,” the minister said.

Superintendent of Police Oral Foster, addressing the same event, repeated the APB’s pledge to safeguard farmers across Jamaica.

“We believe that every single farmer deserves the same level of protection as any other sector in Jamaica,” Foster said.