Man drops bag with high-powered weapons, ammunition after seeing Police

Ranks of a CID Special Patrol of Regional Division 4 ‘A’ have unearthed two high-powered assault weapons and matching ammunition during an operation conducted in Norton Street, Georgetown on Thursday.
According to reports, the CID ranks were on patrol duty within the vicinity of Norton Street, Georgetown when they observed a male acting suspiciously as he carried a green-and-orange-coloured haversack in his right hand.
Upon seeing the Police, the suspect dropped the haversack and ran into an alleyway. Ranks gave chase, but he managed to escape. The bag was retrieved, and upon inspection, an AK-47 assault rifle, an AR-15 rifle, one circular magazine containing 44 live rounds of 7.62×39 ammunition; and two AR-15 magazines, one containing eight live rounds of 5.56×45 ammunition, were found.
The firearms, magazines, and ammunition were dusted for fingerprints before being marked, sealed and lodged as investigations continue.
Less than a month ago, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had reported that a total of 78 illegal firearms were taken out of circulation last year. He had also said that serious crimes in Guyana are becoming more weaponised with the proliferation of guns manufactured in Brazil and the United States being brought into Guyana through the community of Lethem.

“We have taken out of circulation a number of illegal firearms. Region Four ‘A’ has the highest rate of illegal firearms seized. Revolvers accounted for the highest type of illegal firearms taken out of circulation…followed by shotguns. The main origin of illegal firearms is the United States of America, followed by our neighbour Brazil,” Blanhum had said.
He had added that the issue of illegal firearms had been a longstanding concern, and from all indications, more and more of these weapons are ending up in the hands of criminals. As such, the Guyana Police Force had said it is working to stem the flow of these illegal weapons into Guyana.