OZARIO Dos Santos, 23, was on Monday arrested in the mining town of Linden after a search conducted by police ranks found on his person an unlicensed .32 semi-automatic Walther PPK pistol with its serial numbers filed off; two .9mm rounds, which are not prescribed ammunition for the weapon he had in his possession; and a magazine of a toy gun.

Dos Santos, who works in the mining communities of Region 8, had reportedly forced one of the 9mm rounds into the chamber of the Walther pistol, where it became stuck. Police investigators had to disassemble the weapon upon its confiscation to retrieve the bullet from its chamber.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the discovery was made at Lot 470 Kairuni Village, Linden, after a party of policemen descended on Dos Santos’s home just after 19.30 hours on Monday evening to conduct the search, acting on intelligence received.

Ozario Dos Santos will be appearing before the Linden magistrate today to answer to charges of being in possession of the weapon and ammunition, according to police sources.

Up to late yesterday, the police were checking to determine whether the weapon had been used in the commission of any crime before the find was made. The Chronicle was assured that checks have revealed that Dos Santos was never wanted by the police for any offence, and that he was never a person of interest to the police.