Operation ‘Hot Lunch’: Jamaicans Busted for Selling Guns from a Food Truck
Written by adminVibe on June 3, 2024
(ReggaeVibeMedia.com) – In a startling revelation, a food truck specializing in Jamaican cuisine has been identified as the center of a massive illegal drug and firearm operation in Newburgh, New York. This six-month-long investigation, dubbed “Operation Hot Lunch,” led to the arrest of thirty individuals and the seizure of a significant cache of drugs and firearms.
The Real Spice Delivery and Catering Food Truck, operated by 42-year-old Kirkland Salmon, was well-known in the area for its authentic Jamaican dishes such as jerk chicken, oxtail, and escoveitch fish. However, behind the scenes, it was also the epicenter of an illegal operation distributing guns and drugs.
The joint effort involved over forty law enforcement agencies, including the NYPD, and utilized wiretaps, undercover officers, and search warrants to uncover the extent of the operation. The bust resulted in the seizure of 31 firearms, 11.5 kilograms of cocaine, 90 grams of fentanyl, and $45,000 in cash.
In an innovative method of concealment, the firearms were hidden in styrofoam food boxes typically used to serve meals. The seized firearms included ghost guns, assault rifles, and long guns, indicating the extensive nature of the trafficking operation. The drugs were sourced from Florida, while the firearms were sent from North Carolina. Additionally, a nearby barbershop was used to stash the illegal items.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler described the bust as the largest gun trafficking case in the county’s history. Kirkland Salmon, the mastermind behind this sophisticated ring, now faces up to 25 years in prison, and the investigation continues as authorities search for three other suspects still at large.
The local community is in shock as details of the operation emerge. The Real Spice food truck, once a beloved fixture offering a taste of Jamaican culture, is now a stark reminder of the hidden activities that can occur in plain sight. The truck itself has been seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
As the legal proceedings advance, the story of “Operation Hot Lunch” serves as a potent example of the lengths to which illegal traffickers will go to disguise their activities and the complex efforts required by law enforcement to dismantle such operations.
