Cabinet has given approval for the amendment of a section of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) which will allow the State to assume ownership of seized property.
Information Minister Senator Ruel Reid told Wednesday's post-Cabinet media briefing that the amendment will give the Commissioner of Lands the power to take over properties obtained through criminal activity.
He said drafting instructions have been issued to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for the Bill to effect the amendment.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, announced this week that the Government is conducting a review of the Proceeds of Crime Act, which should also serve to strengthen enforcement of the legislation through a system of financial penalties.
The legislation was passed by Parliament in 2007 to replace the Money Laundering Act and provides for the investigation, identification and recovery of the proceeds of crime and connected matters.
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