A QUICK response by the police in Berbice on Monday saw them intercepting three young men who were suspected to have earlier committed a daring robbery on a Cambio dealer at Rosignol, West Coast Berbice.

The police were also able to recover a handgun in the vehicle in which the three were travelling, but which was not registered to either of them. The police up to late last evening were trying to ascertain if the weapon was ever used in committing any other crimes and if it was originally registered to a licensed firearm holder.
The three who were arrested have been identified as David Alder of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara; Dwayne Bentic of Albouystown; and Nigel Quely of Vreed- en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
In addition, the vehicle, a white Allion motorcar PSS 5406, in which the men were travelling at the time they were intercepted by the police is said to be registered to one Charmaine Ashanti Bess of 206 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara. It is not clear if she is related to David Alder, one of the three persons arrested.
It was only yesterday that police sources had indicated that based on their investigations, the crimes which are being perpetrated especially with the use of firearms are opportunistic and are not organised.
Over the last few weeks there has been an upsurge in gun crimes which the police have been battling to bring under control. Several illegally obtained and unlicensed weapons have since been recovered from crime scenes, or upon persons of suspects, or following the perpetration of crimes, or during police raids.
Additionally, the police have been receiving many reports of robberies and other gun-related crimes being committed on citizens by persons who ride mostly BMX pedal cycles. This is even as the police continue to battle with cases of crimes committed by persons who traverse the city and other areas with the use of CG motorcycles.

( Leroy Smith)