A shopkeeper of Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast was yesterday arrested after an unlicensed firearm was found at his shop and later a substance suspected to be ecstasy found at his home.
According to the police, around 10:00 hrs yesterday ranks from Regional Police Division Two, acting on information received, went to Charity Market Street, where they saw Troy Fordyce, 39, who is known to the police.
The release said Fordyce was standing next to a corner shop, and on seeing the police, he walked towards the back of the shop, placed a shiny object under a board, and walked away. The police escorted Fordyce to the back of the shop, where they retrieved a 9MM .380 auto pistol and one magazine from under the board. The serial number on the firearm was filed off, the police said.
Fordyce was told of the offence committed and cautioned. The release said he denied that the firearm belonged to him, but was arrested and escorted to the Charity Police Station, where the gun was marked, sealed, placed in an evidence bag, in his presence and lodged.
Around 11:00 hrs, the police escorted Fordyce to his shop at Charity Market Street and conducted a search for narcotics and unlawful articles in the presence of his reputed wife. However, nothing unlawful was found.
They then took him to his home at Charity Housing Scheme where another search unearthed eight small transparent plastic bags containing a pink powdered substance and one transparent plastic bag containing five pink rocklike substances, all suspected to be methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (ecstasy) in a shoulder bag in one of the bedrooms, the release said.
