GPF boosts security nationwide after suspected terrorist smuggles bomb from Venezuela

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has intensified its security operations across the country following confirmation that the suspected terrorist responsible for Sunday’s deadly bombing in Georgetown transported the explosive device into Guyana from Venezuela.

The explosion, which occurred at the Mobil Gas Station shortly before 19:30h, claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injured several others, including two children.
Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken confirmed that the main suspect has been identified as Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodomo, a Venezuelan national linked to a criminal gang in Venezuela.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, the Commissioner disclosed that Peodomo, along with several accomplices – also Venezuelan – entered Guyana illegally by boat on Sunday last, October 26, 2025, the same day of the attack.
As such, the top cop outlined a nationwide security escalation, noting that Police presence has been reinforced in all ten administrative regions and at border locations.
“We have beefed up all the border locations in terms of policing and the rest of the areas. If you are on the road tonight, you are going to see patrols on the road too. Yes, we have beefed up all the regions to ensure that the Police are comfortable. The Police are safe, but more importantly, the public are safe. At the stations, we are comfortable in that regard with the SOPs we put in place,” Commissioner Hicken said.
“While we’ve been monitoring them (Venezuelans entering Guyana) at the ports of entry as they come in their register, I just want to give you their register as it comes into Guyana, but within the next three or four weeks, we’re going to use another mechanism where we’re going to ID all the immigrants that are in Guyana that are not registered, and so they are going to be registered through the process.” he added

Surveillance, E-ID programme
The GPF has also increased surveillance through its regional command centres and the Smart City network, which uses cameras installed in crime hotspots. These tools, coupled with intelligence-sharing among local, regional, and international partners, including INTERPOL, have been instrumental in tracking and solving the case within 72 hours.
According to Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, steps to enhance border control and migrant registration will be implemented shortly, as many Venezuelan nationals continue to enter Guyana. Minister Walrond revealed that the Electronic Identification (E-ID) programme will soon require all non-citizens, including migrants, to register and obtain E-ID cards to access services such as banking. Unregistered individuals after the grace period will face deportation or sanctions.
“Venezuelan migrants who come here through our ports, they are all registered. Details are taken. However, we have acknowledged that the borders are porous and some people do enter illegally.  To address that, the Government has launched the E-ID programme. What will happen is that we will have cards. This programme has already started. We have cards for citizens, and we have cards for non-citizens.  What we will do is for the persons who are in Guyana illegally, they will be given a grace period in which to come to register and have this E-ID card. With this card, you will not be able to do anything or access any services or banking without this E-ID card for non-citizens,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Sheldon Howell reaffirmed that Guyana’s counter-terrorism framework remains intact, emphasising the Police’s leading role in internal security. He lauded the integrated response that combined human intelligence and technology to quickly solve the case.
“The Guyana Police Force has demonstrated capability, coordination, and commitment to protecting our people. This success underscores the importance of years of investment in human capital and security infrastructure…  And at this time, the investigation is ongoing, and I trust that we will respect the crime chief and his office in their endeavours to continue to protect Guyana and mitigate any further incidents of this nature,” Howell said.
As the investigation continues, both the GPF and Government have urged the public to remain calm and vigilant.