…five men in custody
Local law enforcement may have smashed a thriving cocaine ring operating in the country on Thursday when over 150 kilos of cocaine was seized aboard a vessel at Batavia Island, Cuyuni River. Five people who were arrested, four Guyanese and a foreigner, are currently in custody assisting with the investigations.
The four Guyanese, all males and between the ages of 20 and 41 are: an Amerindian from the Cuyuni River area, two who gave their addresses as the East Bank of Demerara, and one from South Ruimveldt in the city. The foreigner is said to be a Venezuelan national.
The packaged illegal drug, worth millions on the streets, was reportedly found concealed in the false bottom of four plastic containers that were aboard the vessel which was outfitted with two 75hp outboard engines.
Police reported that at about 12:00hrs on Thursday, acting upon information received, ranks intercepted a boat at Batavia Island, Cuyuni River. A search was conducted during which 150 kilograms of suspected cocaine was found in parcels concealed in the false bottoms of four plastic containers.
Following the seizure, the men and drugs were escorted to the Bartica Police Station which was immediately beefed up with additional security and placed in high security mode.
Reports are that as word of the large cocaine seizure and arrest of the men spread around the Bartica community, the gateway to the mining areas in the hinterland, the place became a ghost town for fear of reprisal from those whom the drugs concerned.
A source told the Guyana Chronicle that the actions of the residents of Bartica is understandable, as they may have immediately remembered the night of February 17, 2008, when armed gunmen attacked the community and savagely murdered 12 people and injured others.