FIVE persons are now in police custody after armed bandits made off with more than $4M from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Pouderoyen Branch, West Bank Demerara on Thursday.

According to ‘D’ Division (West Demerara) Commander, Leslie James the robbery occurred at around 2:30h on Thursday. He said based on information received, six armed bandits invaded the NIS Branch at Pouderoyen, relieving one of the two guards on duty of his firearm in the process.

The bandits, reportedly, then proceeded to blow-torch a safe, before making good their escape with more than $4M.

“They blow-torched the safe and took out the content,” the Division ‘D’ Commander said, however he was unable to confirm the total amount stolen by the bandits.

James said five persons, including employees of the Insurance Scheme and the two guards who were on duty at the time of the robbery, are in custody assisting with investigations into the multi-million dollar robbery.

When Guyana Chronicle visited the crime scene, the gates were locked as two female Special Constabulary guards watched over the premises.

“We don’t know anything, I only come here 10 o’clock, and I ain’t know what happen. Everybody you should talk to, at the station,” one of the guards told this newspaper.

She was later overheard informing a number of pensioners that the branch was closed for the day. NIS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Dianne Baxter confirmed with this newspaper that the crime had been committed but was unable to give particulars, indicating that the information was not available at the moment.

However, this newspaper understands that that branch had only this week received contributions from businesses for their employees. Additionally, the branch was reportedly scheduled to pay pensioners.