Berbice police have arrested a man they suspect to be a drug king-pin and several persons are to face charges today following major raids on Friday and Saturday.
Police told Stabroek News yesterday that 19 houses were searched along East and West Berbice as part of their anti-crime operations. Over 50 persons, including a few females were arrested and senior officers in Berbice said the stations were “overloaded.” Two motor vehicles were also detained.
Among those arrested was a reputed drug king-pin who is constructing a hospitality business in Berbice. A relative of his and several bodyguards were also held. The man who was wanted for questioning in Georgetown was taken to the city yesterday. Police were yesterday interrogating the arrested persons, some of whom will be facing charges at Magistrate’s Courts in Berbice today. Some of the persons are likely to be released without being charged. During the raid several persons were found with small amounts of cocaine and marijuana.
Meanwhile Victor Kippins, 34, of Number 28 Village, West Berbice who was arrested around 5:30 pm on Friday was reportedly beaten by the police. His wife, Natasha Kippins told this newspaper that while at the Blairmont Station he asked for water and the police refused to give him and he started to “rock the door.”
She said the police opened the door and gun-butted him in the abdomen. The man was crying out for pain and was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital on Saturday and then returned to the station at Weldaad. He had to be taken to the hospital again yesterday after he complained of more abdominal pain and was “vomiting“ blood.
Contacted, a senior police officer in Berbice said the man had rocked the door at the lock-ups and broken it. He is also expected to be charged today with damage to property.