– Agri Ministry
The Ministry of Agriculture says that two fishing trawlers which were intercepted by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard on Saturday are not legally associated with fishing activities in Guyana.
In a statement yesterday the Department of Fisheries said too that the vessels have never been registered in Guyana.
The ministry said it is conducting an investigation to provide answers to other questions which may arise.
The department is said to be co-operating closely with the police and army.
A single round of ammo and two telescopic sights were found during a search by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), police and the army.
Meanwhile Stabroek News has been reliably informed that the vessels were also subject to a similar search in Trinidad and Tobago before arriving here.
Reliable sources told Stabroek News that this information was forwarded to local authorities and a subsequent search conducted. Meanwhile the captains of the vessels as well as a man on board one of them remain in police custody.
On Saturday the Coast Guard acting on a tip interdicted the MV Champagne, Davvy’s Boy and Lucky Lady II which were moored alongside Muneshwer’s wharf.
CANU and the police were called in and according to a GDF statement, following information that the vessels were involved in arms and ammunition smuggling, they were searched. The searches came up with the telescopic sights and the single round of ammo.
Stabroek News understands that the vessel belongs to a well-known fishing establishment.