SURINAME authorities have confirmed that 30 persons are in custody as investigations intensify into the deadly piracy attack two Fridays ago.

This was disclosed by the Suriname’s Minister of Justice and Police, Stuart Getrouw at a joint press conference hosted by officials of both countries at the Press Center of the Office of the President at Kleine Combeweg in Parimaribo on Monday.

Also Present were Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, Suriname’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Lekhram Soerdjan, Minister of Defense Ronni Benschop, Guyana’s  Ambassador to Suriname Keith George as well as high ranking officers from both the police force of both countries.

Reports are the thirty men have been arrested on both land and sea, however Minister Getrouw when quizzed on the details of those in custody declined to comment as the investigations are ongoing  and divulging details may compromise the investigations.

He , however, confirmed that the status and details surrounding the investigations and those in custody have been disclosed to the Guyanese delegation.

“We had a very fruitful discussion prior to the press conference this morning where the Guyanese delegation was briefed on the actions of the Surinamese Police and they had a session where ideas and intelligence were shared, strategies were discussed to prevent future occurrences and after the press conference they will continue to meet with the Surinamese Police,” he said.

Minister Ramjattan has also confirmed that the two countries have been working in tandem with each other and Guyana has supplied critical information that was requested by the Surinamese.

“I must congratulate the efforts being done by the Surinamese  authorities for helping in bringing to Justice the people who were involved here and ensure their will be a continuation of the investigations,” Ramjattan said . He said that only ‘’intelligence’’  was requested by the Surinamese from Guyana and he is satisfied with the manner in which the investigations have gone thus far . He said that a lot more is still to be done as it relates to retrieving the other bodies of the missing fishermen and identification as well.

“Part of why I am here is to ensure that the cooperation and sharing of intelligence between the two countries to ensure justice is done.  Whatever support is needed by the Surinamese authorities by the Guyanese authorities that support will be given so we can find the culprits, the criminals here and the evidence so that they can be brought to Justice,” Ramjattan said.

Among the men in custody is “Crackhead” who is allegedly a key player in the execution of the attack two Fridays ago on four vessels. Information reaching Guyana Chronicle is that the man has allegedly confessed to killing at least 5 of the 20 men who were attacked.

Over in Guyana three persons remain in custody as investigations are ongoing. One of the men was arrested in “C “Division and two were taken into custody “B” Division. Minister Ramjattan has confirmed that a stay order was granted beyond the 72 hours period as investigators need a little more time to compile the evidence to present to court.

Since the piracy attack on the 27th of April,  boat owners in Suriname have refused to send their boats out to sea for fear of losing lives and property.  Many fishermen have been calling for the issuance of firearms to defend themselves while others have been asking for the Coast Guards to escort them out to sea.

“Where we are fishing the coast guard and them boats don’t reach there so if they can go with us we can gout tomorrow and all but unless we got security and know the people and the boats safe we won’t go out,”  said Hemanlall Ramsarran  the owner of the boat on which fishermen Sherwin Lovell, Ganesh Persaud, Glenroy Jones, Gowkarran Outar and Ganesh “Vicky’ Persaud were on.

Lovell, whose wife passed away on Sunday , survived the attack is recuperating in Paramaribo.