A large number of Jamaicans in the United States and Canada, most of them illegal aliens, have created a widespread criminal organization involved principally in importing and distributing narcotics, according to Federal officials.
Combating that organization was the subject of a conference here this week attended by some 85 representatives of United States and Canadian law-enforcement agencies as well as New Scotland Yard.
The Jamaican organization comprises about 20 gangs operating in 15 metropolitan areas, the Federal officials asserted. They said the gangs, which call themselves ''posses,'' had several thousand members and associates altogether.
James L. Brown, special agent in charge of the Miami district office of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said the gangs had been identified in New York, Philadelphia, Hartford, Boston, Toronto, Washington, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Cleveland, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Los Angeles.
One disturbing thing is their ''total disregard for human life,'' said Mr. Brown, who estimated that 300 to 400 homicides in the last few years could be attributed to them.
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