Jamaica sharpens casino defences

As Princess Grand Jamaica Resort in Hanover prepares to open Jamaica’s first fully-fledged casino early next year, local law enforcement agencies are sharpening their skills at combating money laundering and counter-terrorism financing in collaboration with the entity tasked with regulating this industry that last year generated more than US$320 billion globally.

Senior executives of the Casino Gaming Commission (CGC) told this week’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange that the regulator has been engaged in training with the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), the Financial Investigations Division (FID), and the Jamaica Customs Agency.

“The partnership with MOCA and FID is a partnership of capacity-building and information-sharing, support, and investigations,” CGC Senior Director of Enforcement and Investigations Damion McKenzie told Observer reporters and editors.