The police have claimed that thugs from Tivoli Gardens are in possession of a 50 calibre Grizzly Big Boar rifle.

This weapon, described on the Internet site, www.largrizzly.com /web/guest/bigboar, as a gun that has the capacity to " blow its target to pieces", weighs over 30lb. The website also said the gun was "created for accuracy, and the match grade chamber provides unsurpassed accuracy by using a bullet that was designed to shoot straight and far." The weapon costs over US$2,000.

In a release from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the police said they have been informed that criminal elements in Tivoli Gardens have such a weapon and have also stockpiled petrol.

This revelation comes a day after thugs from the area boasted about the artillery possessed by men from the community. In a story published in the Wednesday STAR,one thug had said, "Di man dem have some ting dung yah yu si, a show alone nuff people ago see dem gun deh inna. Some new ting mi a tell yu bout, di man dem naw play ... . Mek dem run in cause it ago wicked pon dem."

The release again urged law-abiding citizens of Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town to call the police if they need help and to report all criminal acts to them. The police also sought to assure residents that they need not fear as they would be carrying out any operation in a professional manner.