Four Guyanese returning home from overseas have been attacked and robbed by armed bandits during the last few weeks and according to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud investigators are on the verge of cracking these cases.
During a telephone interview yesterday Persaud told this newspaper that some arrests were made on Wednesday and items including suitcases and cellular phones were recovered by police. He described the items recovered as “stuff that were stolen” during the robberies adding that the suspects will be placed on an identification parade shortly.
Persaud explained to Stabroek News that in all four cases the victims were attacked when they arrived at their intended destination by four men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. Persaud said that there is evidence to support the conclusion that the crimes were committed by the same group of people.
He said that the latest incident occurred on Easter Monday during which Leon Archibald, a New York-based Guyanese was attacked at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara after travelling from the airport.
Stabroek News despite efforts was unable to make contact with the man.
Persaud explained that as the man was fetching his suitcases into the house around 5:10 am, four men appeared. He was held up at gunpoint and relieved of a suitcase containing clothing along with US$1300 (equivalent to $260,000 Guyana currency) and a cellular phone. The men then escaped.
He said that another incident occurred in West Ruimveldt but was unable to give details on it as well as the two others.
The Crime Chief had told this newspaper in April last year that this situation was not alarming. He made this disclosure after this newspaper approached him for a comment on three such robberies that had occurred during a two-month period. He said that there were only about “one or two” the previous year.
“Everyone needs to be security conscious,” Persaud said, when asked what advice he would give to persons travelling here. He said that the cases have been isolated so far and the situation is not one to be alarmed about before pointing out that “it is pretty safe”.
Persaud stressed that persons get robbed all over the world. He noted too that travellers just have to be on their guard no matter which part of the world they are before blaming “reckless talking” by relatives for the attacks on overseas-based Guyanese who have been ambushed shortly after arrival in the country.
