-Greene
The gang that planned and executed the $17M GuySuCo payroll robbery and a series of high-profile heists was highly organised and acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene said it appeared to have been hiring guns.
“We are not sure from whom, but they had access to quite a number of weapons, some of which were recovered,” Greene told a press conference at the Police Officer’s Mess yesterday.
Two suspected members were killed and nine others were arrested during a joint service operation last week. But Greene cautioned that the arrest of gang members does not mean that gang robberies are a thing of past. He described the gang as one of the more organised ones. “This gang was a more organised gang, obviously did a lot of planning. They did a lot of intelligence work. They had the services of a boat man who, we are aware, had knowledge of all the rivers and with that sort of facility were able to move freely to other parts of the country.”
Although the force had success in the apprehension of gang members, Greene admitted to its failure in cracking the gun trade within the country’s borders. “We have always admitted having a difficulty in penetrating the gun group — those who are bringing weapons into this country and trading in weapons,” he said. “We have admitted to a difficulty in penetrating that group. We have tried all sorts of different tactics and we have not had much success in penetrating that group of persons who are bringing weapons into this country.” However, not to be daunted, the commissioner said the force is working “on something” and it hopes to get some success in this regard in the “near future.”
Meanwhile, Greene said he was “puzzled” about how photographs of the accused men ended up in the Kaieteur News, days before the men were charged. “Well, I think we ourselves are puzzled because we did not give the photos to that paper,” he said, though he added that newspaper has admitted to paying police officers for information.
Last Saturday the Kaieteur News carried the photographs of all the men who were held in connection with the robberies, although two were eventually released without charge. It was pointed out the commissioner that it was not the first time photographs not officially issued by the police have ended up in selected sections of the media. Greene acknowledged this fact. “We are concerned. I have expressed my concerns in the force. I have expressed my concerns to the particular newspaper.
Their excuse is they are paying for what they want and we must know how to protect our resources. That is what they continue to say…” the commissioner told reporters.
The commissioner also took the opportunity to thank members of the public for their support during the last year by passing on information, attending identification parades and giving evidence in the court. He also asked members of the media “to show fairness in their reporting and give us a level playing field. We are not saying that irregularities by police ranks should be condoned, but when good work is done, it should be given the requisite recognition and praise.”
