Two officers attached to the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) were seriously injured during an anti-smuggling operation last night.
A release from the GRA today said that acting on information received, around 11:45 PM, a team of LEID officers in coordination with police ranks moved to intercept a motor vessel suspected to be transporting un-customed goods in the Mahaica River by land and water.
The release said that the GRA’s vessel came under high-powered and spotlighted gunfire emanating both from suspect’s property and the suspected vessel, “clear evidence that they may have been tipped off”. The LEID officers took evasive action by lying flat in their vessel and returned fire in the general direction of the perpetrators. However, the release said that the perpetrator’s bullets pierced the GRA’s vessel and injured two of the officers in the abdomen and face.
The Officers are currently undergoing surgery. LEID officers are yet to determine whether any perpetrators were injured, and is yet to apprehend the owner of the vessel or leader of the perpetrators, who is known to both the GRA and the police for his smuggling activities.
“Despite the constant threat to their lives, LEID Officers continue to fearlessly execute their duty in order to curb the scourge of smuggling and safeguard the country’s revenues. The Authority welcomes the help of the public and will continue to utilise the resources of its sister Agencies to this effect”, the release said.
Investigations are continuing, and arrests will be made thereafter, the release said.
