2 firearms seized in separate Police operations

– man arrested in South Rupununi

Police have recovered two illegal firearms in separate operations carried out on Friday in regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), one of which led to the arrest of a 36-year-old labourer in the South Rupununi.

In the first operation, Police ranks in Regional Division Nine acted on information received and went to a farm in Karasabai Village, South Pakaraimas, where they discovered an unlicensed 20-gauge single-barrel shotgun in the possession of Joseph Francis, a 36-year-old labourer.
Reports indicate that upon arrival at the farm, the ranks met Francis, who was making clay bricks at the time. While speaking with him, the officers noticed the firearm about ten feet away from where he was standing.
The Police took possession of the weapon and questioned Francis about it. When asked if the firearm belonged to him, he admitted ownership but could not produce a firearm licence. As a result, he was arrested and taken to the Karasabai Police Station, where the weapon was lodged as evidence. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Meanwhile, on the East Coast of Demerara, Police recovered another firearm during a cordon-and-search exercise conducted between 20:05h and 20:35h on Friday.
The operation, which targeted the area between the Ogle New Highway and Goedverwagting Access Road, was aimed at locating guns, ammunition, narcotics, and other illegal or stolen items.
During the search, ranks observed a black plastic bag hidden among a pile of stones on the western side of the access road. Inside, they found a .32 pistol with a matching magazine and one live round of .32 ammunition.
No one was arrested in connection with that discovery. The weapon was seized as investigations continue.