The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is reporting a shocking discovery, which was revealed during a recent operation in Portland.

The company, in a release yesterday, says it has discovered that residents living along the shoreline, in the informal squatter settlement by the Old Port Antonio Marina fishing village, have been benefitting from illegal connections which were run through the sea to conceal their presence.

The revelation came after fishermen complained that they had received shocks in the water. JPS says crews which had been searching the area, located an illegal wire along the shoreline, but further investigations led them to find two more illegal wires: one lying at an estimated 15 feet and the other at 35 feet into the sea. The illegal wires supplied over 20 houses.

"It appears that the lines may have been in the water for some time as removal was hampered by the seaweed and general growth, which fastened them to the seabed. Two arrests were made following the find," the release said.

Of those arrested in Portland since the start of the year, 40 have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to fines ranging from $10,000 to $70,000 or prison terms ranging from 30 days to three months.