A second businessman has been taken into custody as part of the continuing investigation into the discovery of the illegal airstrip and aircraft found earlier this month close to Santa Fe, in Region Nine.
In addition, heavy duty equipment belonging to both persons in custody has also been impounded.
Among the duo is a contractor from Region Nine, who was arrested on Monday by ranks from the Lethem Police Station. A front end loader belonging to him was also impounded. It is suspected that the equipment may have been used in the construction of the airstrip. The second person held is a businessman.
A security source yesterday told Stabroek News that the two men were flown out from Lethem on Thursday and were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Eve Leary in Georgetown, where they are being questioned by detectives. “One of them allegedly contracted the other to prepare the airstrip with a grader to facilitate the landing of the aircraft,” the source revealed.
Police have been granted permission by the High Court to further detain the two men.
On August 14, the Guyana Police Force reported the seizure of the twin-engine Beechcraft, which followed almost a month of reports of a foreign aircraft frequenting the Santa Fe, North Rupununi area. The aircraft was flown out of the Rupununi and landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, where it was handed over to the security forces.
According to the police, a quantity of dry rations, medical supplies, gents clothing and footwear, two hand-held radios, flashlights, cellular phones and an identification card were among the items found on the aircraft.
Stabroek News was told that the aircraft was in the process of being sold. Sources had said that the plane, bearing registration number, PR-IMG was linked to Riwa S.A Incorporacoes, Investimentos e Participacoes, a Brazilian company on lease from Banco Bradesco. Bradesco, is one of the biggest banking companies in Brazil.
