The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Agricultural Protection Branch (APB), launched in June 2025, reports a sharp rise in enforcement for agricultural-related crimes. Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, says the APB’s first year more than triples arrests, increasing from roughly 120 people arrested around agricultural crime in the prior year to more than 400 arrests since the branch began operating. Green also points to an increase in convictions, saying agricultural-related convictions rose from 18 before the APB to 120 during the branch’s first year, attributing the change to dedicated investigators preparing cases for court. The minister links the enforcement effort to improving protection for farmers and supporting national food security. He notes that some parishes have reported declines in agricultural theft, citing Trelawny as an example. Green further says penalties for agricultural-related offences have been increased and that the agriculture ministry continues working with the JCF to operationalise an agricultural wardens programme in areas with significant issues. Superintendent of Police Oral Foster reiterates the APB’s commitment to protecting farmers across Jamaica.
APB more than triples arrests for agricultural crimes in its first year
The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Agricultural Protection Branch (APB), launched in June 2025, reports a sharp rise in enforcement for agricultural-related crimes. Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fi...
- The APB is a specialised JCF unit launched in June 2025 to address agricultural-related crime.
- Arrests for agricultural crime rise from about 120 the year before to over 400 in the APB’s first year.
- Convictions for agricultural-related crime increase, described as moving from 18 to 120 since the APB began operating.
- The APB is described as using dedicated investigators to prepare cases for court.
- The agriculture ministry says it is working with the JCF to operationalise an agricultural wardens programme.
The Agricultural Protection Branch (APB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has more than tripled the number of arrests for agricultural-related crimes in its first year of operation.
5 hours agoST THOMAS, Jamaica — The Agricultural Protection Branch (APB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has more than tripled the number of arrests for agricultural-related crimes in its first year of operation. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, gave the update during the recent launch of the Heifer Redistribution programme at Serge Island Dairies in St Thomas. The APB was launched in June 2025 as a specialised unit designed to combat praedial larceny and protect agricultural livelihoods and 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,” Green said. He also noted the increase in convictions from arrests. “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. The minister lauded the JCF for recognising the need to have a unit dedicated to addressing agricultural crimes, noting that farmers in parishes like Trelawny have reported a decline in agricultural theft. Green noted that penalties for agricultural-related crimes have significantly increased and the ministry continues to work with the JCF to operationalise the agricultural wardens programme. “So, in the areas where we have significant issues, we will have more people to treat with these agricultural crimes,” the minister said. In his remarks, Superintendent of Police, Oral Foster, reaffirmed the commitment of the APB to protect the welfare of farmers across the country. “We believe that every single farmer deserves the same level of protection as any other sector in Jamaica,” Foster said.
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