The police today said that they are investigating an armed robbery committed on a mining camp located at the Baboon Backdam, Cuyuni River on Wednesday May 16,2018 between 19:00-00:00 hrs. The attack was carried out by four masked males armed with a rifle and shotguns. They were reportedly outfitted in dark coloured clothing and spoke a foreign language, the police said.
A quantity of raw gold and other valuables including a licensed shotgun were carted off by the perpetrators. None of the twenty- eight employees of the mining company was injured. The scene was visited by a team comprising ranks of the Joint Services.
No arrest has been made at this time.
The police release came on the same day that a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) press release was issued on the GDF’s role in the area in relation to a foreign criminal gang known as the `Sindicatos’.
The GDF release said: “The Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, along with a team of officers from the Guyana Defence Force, on May 3rd 2018, delivered a presentation to Members of Parliament on the conduct of Operation Armadillo, an ongoing operation, which was launched by the GDF on Feb 16th 2018, following allegations of criminal enterprise on our western border by members of a foreign criminal gang known as the “Sindicatos.”
“Subsequent to the presentation, an interactive session between Members of Parliament and the GDF Team was chaired by the Speaker of the House. This was done in an effort to clarify any issues pertaining to the presentation and the operational posture of the Force. On conclusion, the Hon. Dr. Barton Scotland thanked the Chief of Staff and team for appearing before the House”.