–three others with shotgun

By Leroy Smith
POLICE yesterday morning in a stop- and- search procedure on motorcar PLL 9931 at Avenue of the Republic arrested a Guyana Defence Force Lance Corporal and three other persons who were in the vehicle, when two unlicensed firearms and several rounds of ammunition were found.The police, who are part of the recently launched ‘Operation Dragnet’ security initiative, received information about the men who were in the vehicle at the time and suspicions were aroused by what appeared to be mud covering over a few digits on the car’s registration plate.
The police responded promptly and intercepted the car along Avenue of the Republic and the search of the vehicle in full view of members of the public saw the discovery of an illegal sawn-off pump action shotgun and an unlicensed .38 revolver and matching rounds of ammunition.
During the operation a GDF Lance Corporal and three civilians were arrested.
The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that when the police patrol rolled up alongside the vehicle, the driver acknowledged the driver of the police vehicle since they are familiar with each other.
The police then instructed the GDF rank who was driving the car to pull over so that a search could be carried out. The police became even more suspicious of the men in the vehicle when they observed that the GDF rank was wearing another garment over his army uniform.

FIND
During the search of the vehicle, the police found the shotgun under the driver’s seat of the car while the .38 special revolver and six matching rounds were found in a black shoulder bag under the front passenger seat where one of the civilians was sitting.
The police found that the vehicle is registered to Mohamed Ali of Lot 4 High Street. The vehicle and firearms were lodged and the men were arrested and taken into custody. Their fingerprints were also taken and they are expected to be placed on an identification parade tomorrow.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken during an interview with reporters, said that the arrest yesterday was all part of the ongoing Christmas security posture that the police have adopted and complements ‘Operation Dragnet.’
Hicken expressed confidence that the arrest will also see the police solving several recent robberies. Referring to last Friday’s armed robbery at AH&L Kissoon outlet on Main Street, he said that “it makes no sense that we rush to tell the members of the media and the public that we solved the crime when in fact the process was not followed. There is a process that has to be followed and we need to follow that process, because if it is not done properly, then we stand the risk of losing the case in court and all the hard work of the ranks would be in vain.”

EMBARRASSING
Meanwhile, contacted yesterday in relation to the soldier and the three civilians who were arrested, Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips, who is also overseeing ‘Operation Dragnet’, said that the developments are very embarrassing to all those who serve in the armed forces, especially the GDF.
He confirmed that immediately after the arrest was made and the GDF was informed, checks were carried out to confirm that none of the weapons which the men were carrying belonged to the army.
Phillips said that based on his information, the lance corporal had been serving in the army for more than two years and was expected to be on duty at Base Camp Ayanganna at the time he was reportedly found to be on the other side of the law.
Brigadier Phillips confirmed also that the man was enlisted as a driver for the GDF Medical Corps and had no right to park the vehicle and leave the compound. The man, according to Phillips, left the premises without permission.
“This is embarrassing for all of us in the Disciplined Services and I want to make it clear and assure all that the dishonoured corporal will be treated like any other suspect and he is not expected to receive any special privileges,” the Chief- of- Staff said.
Police sources are very convinced that the men were intercepted as they were getting ready to commit a crime.