Joint Services ranks come under fire from Sindicato Gang

A joint patrol comprising ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), on Wednesday came under fire while patrolling the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

According to the GDF, the ranks were patrolling near the Guyana-Venezuela border when they came under fire from the Venezuelan shore. It is suspected that the attack was launched by the notorious Sindicato gang.
However, no rank was injured during the ordeal. It was related that aggressive joint boat patrols from the Guyanese security forces have since been intensified in the Cuyuni River.
Guyana’s border with Venezuela is more than 1000 kilometres long and patrols are conducted on a routine basis. The GDF noted that Wednesday’s incident was not new and several measures were being explored toward a resolution.
Only recently, several officers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) came under fire while conducting inspections along the Cuyuni River. It is suspected that the shots were fired by the notorious Sindicato gang from Venezuela.
In fact, Regional Commander Dion Moore had explained that such incidents have been occurring for some time now. Fortunately, no one has ever been injured to date.
Just last week, United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo signed a marine patrol pact with Guyana to strengthen security in its waters. Under the maritime patrol pact to guard against narcotics and other regional security threats, US and Guyanese security forces will monitor maritime movements. The signing of this pact for maritime patrol comes on the heels of increasing cross-border attacks from Venezuela in riverine areas.
“In relation to our Exclusive Economic Zone, it is not only from a maritime perspective, because we would have raised also with the Secretary radar coverage of our Exclusive Economic Zone, which is critical at this time. We have had various difficulties and I think we welcome any help that would enhance our security, that would enhance our ability to protect our borders, and importantly, enhance our capability and ability to ensure that we go after criminal elements. And this allows us to do that. It strengthens our capacity and it builds that partnership and gives us that additional capacity that is so needed,” President Irfaan Ali had said at the signing.