Over 700 agricultural-related arrests have been made since the start of the year by the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Agricultural Protection Branch.

That’s according to Commanding Officer for the Branch, Senior Superintendent Oral Pascoe.

He was speaking on the JCF’s ‘A Force-4-Good’ Podcast on Sunday, hosted by Senior Superintendent, Dennis Brooks.

The police have been raising concern about gangs using the proceeds of praedial larceny to fund and arm their criminal enterprises.

This includes the stealing of cattle and other livestock.

SSP Pascoe says the movement of stolen cows has decreased as a result of the police tagging more cattle.

SSP Oral Pascoe, Commanding Officer for the Agricultural Protection Branch.

Agriculture Minister Floyd recently says the ministry has taken steps to maintain an adequate supply of cattle tags.

It recently ordered 130,000 tags.

These will be supplement 20,000 tags received two weeks ago.

The new batch is set to arrive in the first week of August.

Meanwhile, Area Five Coordinator for the APB, Inspector Robert Robinson, says the branch is exploring the use of drone technology to assist with surveillance and investigations.

Inspector Robert Robinson, Area Five Coordinator for the Agricultural Protection Branch, APB.