Bunting warns of extraditing scammers

National Security Minister Peter Bunting has again warned that players in the lottery scam would soon be extradited to face criminal charges overseas.

In a report issued by the state-media, the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on the weekend, the National Security Minister is quoted as saying that several cases were being worked on by foreign law enforcement agencies.

According to Bunting, the effort would assist greatly to break the back of the lottery scam, which is central to St James’ onerous crime situation.

On Friday, the minister revealed that St James had the highest numbers of murders per capita in the country, fuelled largely by the predominance of the lottery scam.

Minister Bunting says work is being advanced on legislation, which will allow a broader range of charges to be brought against scammers.

He says among the legislative initiatives are amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act. But he says the administration is also seeking to introduce new legislation to deal with various types of ‘advance fee fraud’, including lotto scamming. He says the bill could be taken to parliament within months.