Two Brazilians — helicopter pilot Alexandre Felix Plan and labourer Ricardo Brags Silva, were charged yesterday with several offences when they appeared via zoom before Magistrate Allan Wilson at Lethem.
A release from the police said that the duo pleaded not guilty at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court to the charges and were remanded to prison. The case was put down to March 16th and 17th for trial.
Felix, 54, of RUA Pariba 45, Apartment 108 Santos-SP, Brazil was charged with:
(a) Operating a civil aircraft without an airworthiness certificate: Contrary to Section 89 (2) of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 21 of 2018.
(b) Interference with an Aircraft: Contrary to Section 121 of the Civil Aviation Act No. 21 of 2018.
(c) Operating an aircraft without insurance: Contrary to Section 137 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 21 of 2018.
Having arrived in Guyana by air, he was further charged with disembarking without the consent of an Immigration Officer contrary to Section 34 (1) (a) of the Immigra-tion Act Chapter 14:02.
Silva, 29, of RUA Laranjeira, Apartment 104 Bloco: 08, Belém, Brazil was charged with disembarking the helicopter without the consent of an Immigration Officer.
A Joint Services operation in Region Nine had led to the discovery of the helicopter and an illegal mining site operated by Brazilians.
The Guyana Defence Force in a statement on February 22nd said that the intelligence-led operation was carried out on February 19. The operation was carried out in the New River Triangle in southern Guyana.
The helicopter according to the GDF was delivering food at the camp site. The GDF said one shot gun, 10 cellphones, a generator, mining equipment, passports, ID cards and a Bank Card were found at the camp.
Additionally, the GDF said a quantity of equipment was confiscated and the camp and mining tunnel were destroyed.
The operation, the GDF noted was conducted over a four-day period and included two officers and 27 ranks. The operation was supported by the air corps using a Bell 412 and Shorts Helicopter.
