– Berbice cops say on alert
Berbice Divisional Commander Steve Merai on Thursday expressed concern about the high-powered semi-automatic rifle that was part of an arms cache seized by police earlier this week, but stressed that police are on top of the situation.
The Israeli-made Uzi semi-automatic weapon, which is not in the local military inventory, was retrieved from a man captured at Adelphi Village, Canje on Tuesday, and Merai told reporters that intelligence gathered by the police suggests that the weapons would have been used to commit crimes in Central Corentyne.
In addition to the Uzi, police recovered two AK-47s and a 12-gauge shotgun with three live cartridges. Police Commissioner Henry Greene has said the AK-47s belong to the Guyana Defence Force. He said ballistic tests would have to be done to determine whether the weapons have been used in any crimes and they were due to be transported to the police laboratory in Georgetown for tests to be done.
Meanwhile, Merai, at a media briefing along with acting Deputy Commander, Superintendent Lyndon Alves and Berbice Crime Chief, Superintendent Courtney Ramsey, suggested that the Uzi may have been used in the robbery committed in May on the residence of businessman Surendra Ganesh at Wellington Park, Corentyne. During that assault, Arjune Gobin, a security guard attached to Nand Persaud & Co, was killed.
Merai said he had intercepted a smaller version of the weapon before. He also noted that it is in fairly good condition and could be used immediately. He added the keepers of the weapons seemed to have knowledge of storage and may have had military training.
Referring to the Uzi, Superintendent Alves, a firearms specialist, said it was the first occasion that such a weapon was intercepted locally. He described it as an erratic firearm, which can release in a single shot approximately 200 to 300 rounds at a distance of 200 metres.
Alves said he was exposed to the semi-automatic weapon whilst on training overseas, but had never seen one on the local shores.
Superintendent Ramsey observed that most robbery victims have complained that the perpetrators had long guns, which he suggested are used to drive fear in their victims. However, he called on residents to assist the police by giving whatever information they may have so that arrests can be made. “We will go after the criminals. Once we have the information we will arrest,” he said.
Following several recent minor robberies in Berbice, Merai said various strategies have been adopted by police, including a focus on questionable characters. He noted that it is known that there are two main gangs operating from the Upper Corentyne and Canje areas. At times, he added, the gangs would join forces and attack persons at Black Bush Polder using the waterways.
Merai said some of the individuals are known, including a man who had escaped from the New Amsterdam Prison in 2007.
On Tuesday, three police ranks were on mobile patrol responding to a domestic violence report in the East Canje community when they recognized two known characters on a bicycle and they ordered them to stop. The men, who were carrying two bags, refused and one of the policemen then kicked the bicycle, causing the men to fall. The men tried to escape but one was captured, although he bit the arresting officers.
Merai commended that the young policemen for executing their responsibility in a professional manner. Although the man charged with the unlawful possession of the weapons (see story on page 10) has contended that the policemen did not identify themselves, Merai said there were no violation of the rules. He did admit, however, that the officers were travelling in an unmarked vehicle. Merai added that the men were part of a gang operated by wanted man David ‘Colonel’ McPherson, who was killed by police in June this year.
Meanwhile, on Thursday Berbice police recovered a 9mm pistol following a raid on a cash crop farmer at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder.
