Plane found at illegal airstrip in South Rupununi, may have been smuggling mercury

Robistaine Peixoto Saraiva

-man held after exchange of gunfire, pilot escapes

In the South Rupununi, the police on Sunday intercepted a plane which may have been smuggling mercury for gold mining and one man was arrested during an exchange of gunfire while the pilot of the craft managed to escape to Brazil.

The police yesterday said in a release that at approximately 10:55 am on Sunday, based on information received regarding an aircraft attempting to land at an illegal airstrip in Bashaizon Village, an investigation was conducted.

Commander of Regional Police Division #9, Senior Superintendent Raphael Rose, along with Inspector Alfred, Detective Sergeant 21328 De Jonge, Sergeant Joseph, and other ranks from the Guyana Police Force, accompanied by three members of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit, visited the scene.