US citizens arrested after allegedly forging PCR tests

Two US citizens were arrested on Sunday after they allegedly presented forged PCR test results to authorities at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Based on reports received, the man and the woman were outgoing passengers on a Caribbean Airlines flight – BW526 – destined for the JFK International Airport.
However, whilst checking in they handed over their PCR test results from the Sheriff Medical Centre which showed negative. Upon examination, the documents were suspected to be forged and as such, contact was made with the Sheriff Medical Centre which proved that the documents were indeed forged.
Duo was immediately handed over to the Police and subsequently placed on station bail. An investigation into the alleged forgery is ongoing. In February 2021, an investigation was launched by the Health Ministry after reports surfaced that people were entering Guyana with fake COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test results.
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony had stated “We have had some reports not so much of people going out but we’ve had reports of people coming in where they were forging their PCR results. Because remember, we require PCR to come into Guyana”.
At the time of the report, the Minister did not disclose which countries the reports came from.