Security officer in breach of COVID-19 curfew busted with gun, ammo

A security officer and his colleagues were taken into Police custody on Saturday evening after he was found to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm and matching ammunition while breaching the COVID-19 curfew at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
According to information received, about 23:20h on the night in question, a team of Police ranks were on mobile patrol when they observed persons consuming alcohol at a service station in the area.
At that time, a Toyota Allion motor car was parked with a female seated in the front passenger seat while several men were seated on a bench nearby.
As such, the Police approached and instructed them to return to their respective homes while cautioning them about flouting the COVID-19 guidelines.
However, one of the men, a 46-year-old security officer of Park Street, Enterprise, ECD, walked towards that car and opened one of the rear doors.
He was observed removing an object, which appeared to be a firearm and disposing of same.
Ranks immediately searched the area and recovered a 9mm pistol and 12 live rounds of matching ammunition. The officer was told of the offence and taken to the Vigilance Police Station. He was charged for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, and was expected to make his court appearance today.
Only on Sunday, a 36-year-old businessman of James and Garnett Streets, Albouystown, Georgetown was taken into custody after he was found with a 9mm Taurus pistol and 16 live rounds of matching ammunition. The illegal items were discovered resting on the cover of a barrel in the businessman’s bedroom.
This comes on the heels of the discovery of several firearms at DeVeldt Village, Berbice River, by Police last week during a ganja eradication exercise. They include one double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun, one 20-gauge shotgun, one .32 shotgun, and two OPS air guns along with nine 12-gauge, one 20-gauge and five .32 cartridges.