POLICE managed to apprehend two suspects believed to be the men who have been donning police uniforms and perpetrating armed robberies on persons travelling to and from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The men’s arrest comes in the wake of an article published in the August 7, 2014 edition of the Guyana Chronicle, headlined: “Police making every effort to nab ‘cop’ bandits—Crime Chief”.
Sleuths in ‘A’ Division reported that acting on information, they raided a dwelling house in North Ruimveldt in which they found items and other articles, including documents belonging to robbery victims; consequently, the men were taken into custody.

The duo were identified as an ex-cop who was interdicted and his colleague, who was dismissed from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) sometime ago; this most likely explains how the men acquired police uniforms.
The suspects are believed to be behind the recent carjackings and robberies of several taxi operators, who are yet to recover their vehicles.

The initial article had said in the wake of recent armed robberies perpetrated by men purporting to be members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Crime Chief Leslie James had asserted that these matters are of grave concern to the force and that it was only a matter of time before the suspects were apprehended.

Speaking to this publication, James explained that for men to be dressed like cops and execute crimes is a serious issue and the GPF was expending all efforts to ensure that these men are caught and put behind bars.
He said, “We cannot have a few people out there running around terrorising citizens while posing as cops and how will people know who the real police are”?

Additionally, James had urged citizens to continue cooperating with the police, since they were mandated to execute their duties and they could stop, search and detain any person or vehicle they see fit while probing crimes.

At the same time, he encouraged citizens to be alert and report to the police while travelling if they see a police patrol, a roadblock or anything police-related to Force Control to verify police activities. He further advised citizens to be alert and observant, so that if the necessity arose, they would be able to take evasive action.

On August 2, 2014 a husband and wife along with a taxi driver were stopped on their way to the CJIA by two men who identified themselves as policemen, claiming that they were investigating an accident. The men then took them to a desolate area at Soesdyke, where they were tied up and robbed of cash and jewellery amounting to millions.

One week before, Pastor Sewnauth Poonalall of the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church was gun-butted and robbed shortly after returning from the airport with overseas guests.