Two men were held on Friday with a gun, ammunition and handcuffs during a stop and search exercise at Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara.
In a statement yesterday, the police say that they conducted a ‘stop and search’ exercise at around 10 pm on Friday at Eccles Access Road in the vicinity of Sage Pond.
During the exercise, Police stopped one white Allion motor vehicle with registration number PXX 9496. It was observed that there were two men in the car.
In the driver’s seat was Shakia Chase, a 39-year-old taxi driver from Farm, East Bank Demerara; and in the front passenger seat was Loris House, a 34-year-old gold miner from South Georgetown, who had a black haversack on his lap and was acting suspiciously.
Police informed both the driver and passenger that they had reason to believe that they were in possession of arms, ammunition, and drugs and would like to carry out a search. The two men agreed.
The statement said that a search was carried out on the driver and the car, and two pairs of handcuffs and one pair of footcuffs were found in the car. Chase, when questioned about the items found, said the car did not belong to him. He was told of being ‘in possession of military stores’, arrested and cautioned, and he remained silent.
Police then searched the black haversack that House was carrying and found a black and silver .357 Magum firearm inside, along with six .38 rounds of ammunition.
Police also found US$99 in the haversack. House, who stated that he is not the holder of a firearm licence, was told of the offences committed, arrested and cautioned, after which he said: “Is me gun”.
They were both escorted to Providence Police Station and placed in custody, pending charges.
