A Brazilian man was shot dead today during a raid by bandits of a mining `dragger’ in the Essequibo River near Omai.
The police say they are investigating a report that between 0100h and 0400h today Friday, a number of men armed with firearms boarded the mining “dragger” in the Essequibo River.
The armed men held up the workers comprising four male and one female Brazilian nationals, and two male Guyanese, and demanded gold and cash.
Police say that the victims were tied up and assaulted, during which one of the Brazilian males was shot and killed. Unconfirmed information has identified him as Antonio Dos Santos, 46 years, police said.
Investigators have been dispatched to the scene. No other information is available at this time, police said.