The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, MOCA is urging citizens to be wary of persons who are renting properties in upscale communities, in order to carry out illegal activities.

Press Officer for MOCA, Detective Inspector Antoinette Morrison said the agency has noticed a worrying trend wherein persons, particularly those involved in lottery scamming, are renting upscale air b-n-b apartments, and using these premises for staging crimes.

She explained that MOCA wants people to be aware of these persons and their activities, as under the law, persons can be charged, if found to be aiding and abetting the commission of criminal activities, by knowingly allowing the use of their premises.

If found guilty, such persons could face up to 15 years in prison.

Detective Inspector Morrison pointed out that it is very important that landlords take reasonable precautions, before and while letting their premises, as willful blindness towards the criminal activities of tenants will not absolve them from prosecution.

Since the start of the year, MOCA has made several arrests of persons involved in lottery scamming and seized a number of identity cards, electronic devices and other paraphernalia related to the crime.

Recently, the agency signed an MOU with the Financial Investigation Division, FID as part of a collaborative effort to fight major organised crime.

MOCA is urging members of the public who have information on persons involved in lottery scamming, corruption and other major organised crime, to submit this information via the agency’s website.