Police uncover guns, ammo along Essequibo River

Police in Regional Division Seven, acting on information received on Monday went to Makauria, Essequibo River, where they conducted a search at Hamper Bay and found a .32 semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing six live matching rounds of ammunition.
In a statement on Tuesday, Police said that upon arrival at about 16:35h they met a 37-year-old man and confronted him about an allegation that he had discharged a loaded firearm in the vicinity of Makauria Creek.
When questioned, Police said that the man stated that he did not possess a firearm license and claimed that the firearm belonged to his uncle, a 73-year-old farmer residing at Hamper Bay, Essequibo River.

He was arrested and escorted to the Bartica Police Station along with the firearm and ammunition.
Police said that they later conducted a video-recorded interview with the man, during which he admitted that the firearm belonged to his uncle and that he had accidentally discharged it at the home of a 36-year-old housewife residing at Makauria Creek.
According to the release, said that they contacted the uncle via cellular phone, who alleged that his nephew had stolen the firearm from him.
This discovery prompted, Police said, further investigation into the ownership and legality of the firearm.
On Tuesday at about 09:00h, the uncle reported to the Bartica Police Station. During an interview with Divisional Detective Officer Assistant Superintendent Nedd, in the presence of another rank, the man revealed that he is the licensed owner of a .32 semi-automatic pistol and a .270 Walter PKK rifle. He stated that both firearms were licensed in 2021 but were not renewed due to financial constraints.
He further disclosed that he stored the rifle, along with the pistol, at his residence in Hamper Bay. He claimed that both firearms were kept in a metal case secured with a padlock, which he checked frequently to ensure it was locked. He alleged he had two keys for the padlock: one hung in his room and the other on a key ring with his house keys.
The pensioner explained that he had known the man who was arrested for over 20 years as he is the nephew of a close friend and he has treated him as family.
He told ranks that he checked his room and discovered that the padlock on the safe was opened and that his firearms and ammunition were missing.
Police said that a further interview was conducted with the man who was arrested and he admitted to removing the firearm and hiding it based on instructions from his uncle. He agreed to accompany the police to show where the firearm was hidden.
At about 15:00h on Tuesday, a team of officers escorted the man from the Bartica Police Station along with his ‘uncle’.
A search of the house was conducted and Police found seven live .270 rounds of ammunition in the upper flat. A subsequent search of the lower flat revealed a .270 Walter PKK rifle concealed in a white salt bag under a wooden bed frame.
The ‘nephew’ claimed that his ‘uncle’ had allowed him to use the rifle to hunt ‘tiger’ and was aware that he used the firearms.
The seized firearm and ammunition were transported to the Bartica Police Station.
The man remains in police custody and Police said that he is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. His ‘uncle’ involvement in the matter is also under scrutiny, particularly regarding his alleged instructions to hide the firearm and his failure to report the missing rifle initially.