THROUGH intelligence and networking, Berbice detectives have managed to capture three persons following an exchange of gunfire after a robbery had taken place at the M. Ali Supermarket at Main and Pope Streets in New Amsterdam, Berbice on Thursday, July 16.At approximately 18.50hrs, two identifiable males entered the M. Ali Supermarket and held sales clerk Tamike Lagadeau at gunpoint, before ordering that she direct them to the adjoining bond where Nazmoon Ally, the proprietress, was seated.

They ordered the 64-year-old Ally to hand over cash. She was fearful for her life, but hesitated; and the men opened the drawer and removed her son’s, Fizal Ally’s, licenced 9mm pistol, $350,000 cash, and a quantity of GTT and Digicel phone cards.

On exiting the building, one of the bandits discharged a round at Ms Lagadeau, but it hit his accomplice instead.

There were two other accomplices who were on the look out. The four men escaped seconds before the police arrived on the scene.

It is surmised that the suspects were timing every move of the cops, as the cops had moments before patrolled that area.

The M. Ally robbery came on the heels of another committed on Monday, when a sales clerk attached to the A Ali and Sons General Store was robbed as she was about to make a $4M deposit at a commercial bank along the Strand Public Road.

Three persons have since been released on $100,000 bail each as the police continue investigating that robbery, including viewing surveillance footage.
CRIMINAL INVASION
Divisional Detective, Superintendent Terrance Paul, indicated to this newspaper that a Georgetown-based gang had moved to the Ancient County after ‘heat’ had been intensified in the capital city. The gang of four, working under the direction of a known Berbice criminal character who is wanted for a series of robberies, had been housed in an old, dilapidated house in Stanleytown, where one was nabbed a few hours after the Ali robbery had taken place.

Due to quick intelligence gathering, the police went to the Georgetown Car Park in New Amsterdam, located in vicinity of Sukpaul’s Gas Station, and spotted four men in a car a few yards away. But as a plainclothes rank drew near to investigate, the car driver pulled over in a dark area, allowing the men to exit the vehicle and discharge several rounds at the police.

An armed senior rank returned fire at the men before arresting a male suspect with an unlicensed .38 revolver and 10 matching rounds. Six rounds were in the barrel of the pistol, while four were in his pocket. This happened at about 23:30hrs Thursday.

Fortunate to have access to five vehicles, the police team employed various strategies to nab the bandits. A team cordoned off the Stelling Road to Gafoor Suppliers under the East Canje Bridge, while another drove southward into the town of New Amsterdam.

At about 01:30hrs on Friday, in the vicinity of Republic Road and Philadelphia Street, police on mobile patrol observed two men walking parallel to each other on opposite shoulders of the road. It was also observed that their clothing was muddy, and that one was attempting to hide his face.

Challenged by the cops, the men fired several rounds, and the police returned fire. The entire episode lasted between twenty and thirty minutes, and residents of the nearby Savannah Park and other areas within a half-mile radius recalled hearing the rapid gunfire. Despite that police effort, the men eluded capture.

However, at about 02.30hrs, another team observed a man walking in the vicinity of the Commander’s Residence at Strand and King Street. Arrested, he cooperated fully with the police. He remains in custody.

By Jeune Vankeric