Several detained after sheep theft, as rustling leaves farmers counting losses

Several men are now in police custody after they were intercepted early Saturday morning in connection with the ongoing theft of sheep, which has left farmers across multiple communities counting losses in recent weeks. According to reports, the men were apprehended in an area outside of Berbice while allegedly transporting stolen sheep in a motor vehicle bearing registration number PYY 440. Although they were not arrested in Berbice, the suspects are alleged to be responsible for a series of sheep thefts reported in parts of Berbice, Mahaica, Mahaicony, and surrounding agricultural districts, where farmers have complained of animals disappearing from pens and grazing lands. It is alleged that the group had been targeting sheep pens during night raids, breaking into holding areas and removing animals under the cover of darkness. During the early morning interception, police reportedly discovered several sheep in the back of the vehicle.
When ranks arrived, one of the men, said to be the driver and owner of the vehicle, allegedly fled the scene on foot. Police gave chase and he was eventually apprehended in a nearby field. In a video recording seen by this publication following the incident, a man who appeared to know one of the suspects was heard rebuking them, saying, “This is what y’all doing? Y’all don’t want to work!” In the same recording, questions were raised about whether the suspect was armed, but the man denied having a firearm. Reports indicate that most of the men are from Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

They are currently being held at the Mahaicony Police Station and are expected to be formally charged and placed before the court today. Up to press time on Sunday, police have not yet issued a statement on the alleged robbery, nor have they confirmed the exact number of suspects detained or the number of sheep allegedly stolen. The alleged bust comes against the backdrop of growing frustration among livestock farmers in Region Six (East Berbice Corentyne), where rustling has become a persistent threat to livelihoods. Just weeks ago, Brighton Village farmer Karon Thom reported the theft of six head of cattle from his pen after ropes were cut and gates forced open. The animals, valued at approximately $1.5 million, were allegedly driven out of the pen and into nearby backlands. “That is my life. I depend on that,” Thom had said, explaining that cattle rearing is critical to sustaining his household, especially during downturns in the rice industry. Thom also revealed that this was not the first time he had been targeted, recalling a previous incident in which he was forced to pay money to recover stolen animals. Farmers across the Corentyne have repeatedly complained that organised rustling operations are exploiting isolated grazing lands, poor lighting and limited night patrols in backdam areas, allowing thieves to move animals quickly between districts. During the 2025 Christmas Policing launch, Region Six police officials acknowledged that livestock rustling remains a major challenge and said patrols would be intensified in vulnerable areas. As the detained men await court proceedings, farmers are once again calling for stronger enforcement and tougher penalties, warning that livestock theft is not a minor offence but a direct attack on rural livelihoods.