The police suspect that one of the men believed to be part of a Sindicato gang that was held off during an attack at a mining camp at Black Water, Cuyuni, in Region Seven last Wednesday, was wounded.
One suspected member of the Venezuelan gang, who still remained unidentified up to Friday, was killed during a gunfight with security officers who were at the SSS mining camp.
Divisional Commander Kevin Adonis told this newspaper that a team of ranks that was dispatched to the area to conduct investigations had returned.
He explained that based on investigation received, the security guards noticed the four men, all armed, approaching the camp.
As a result, they opened fire and the men retaliated.
During the shootout, which lasted an hour and a half, the unidentified man was fatally shot.
Adonis said that it is suspected that one of the three other suspected gang members was also hit but still managed to escape.
Nine security officers from of Sheriff Security Services, which was guarding the camp, engaged the suspected gang members.
Amir Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of the security firm, previously told this newspaper that while six officers would usually be stationed at the camp, because of “wash-downs” they sent in three more ranks as reinforcements.
“Last night [Wednesday], around 10 pm, one of the guys radioed in and said they were under attack. They ambushed us… We usually only have one watchman at the tower and the gate is always locked. Nevertheless, when the guys heard the gunshots, they went into action and for the period of time there was back and forth firing and what we were told since is that they had high powered rifles,” Ahmad had explained, while pointing out that the men that were present at the camp related that the attack subsided sometime after 11.45 pm.
“We have watchtowers around the camp and we were able to retaliate from the ground and above the ground. The area is pitch dark and you can’t see more than 15 feet in front of you but they were able to see where the gunshots were coming from because those high powered guns would spit fire and light up the place,” Ahmad added, while noting that his personnel had suspected that there were about six gang members attacking the camp.
Ahmad related that after the attack subsided his men searched the outskirts of the camp after 3 am.
During the search, they found the dead man, who was lying on the ground with two handguns with matching ammunition as well as ammunition for an AK-47 rifle.
“They found the Spanish guy this morning [Thursday] along with the guns and bullets. We called in to the Eteringbang Police Station and covered the body,” Ahmad said.
He noted that while none of his employees or other occupants of the camp were injured during the attack, the company’s dog was shot and killed by the bandits.
Following the incident, Ahmad had sent in more reinforcements and supplies, including more ammunition, which would have been almost depleted due to the lengthy exchange of gunfire.
