ELEVEN persons including a woman have been arrested as police continue their investigations into Monday robbery of a Corentyne businessman by a large gang of bandits carrying AK-47 rifles.

Some $20 Million in cash, as well as over S1M in jewelry were stolen during the attack. On Tuesday police grilled the men held with the hope of cracking the case.

Commander of B Division, Errol Watts said he is optimistic of a breakthrough shortly. He has confirmed up to press time that 11 persons, including a female suspect and an ex-police officer are among those detained. Those in custody reportedly hail from the New Amsterdam/Canje area, while the others were picked up from different locations in Berbice.

Commander Watts has also confirmed the arrival, as promised, of a highly-trained team from the city to assist with investigations and serve at the Springlands Police Station “to work towards a crime-free Christmas season.

At around 01:45hrs on Monday last gunshots rang out in Cambio Dealer, Devendra Churaman’s Lot 93 Albert Street, Kingston, Corriverton residence as 15 men armed with AK47 assault rifles, shot guns and cutlasses broke down a steel door to gain access into his home.

According to Churaman, five of the men entered his home while the others kept guard at the side of his house, on the street and on the fence while discharging several rounds in the air, and setting alight fire crackers. After gaining entrance into the home, the bandits used a sledge hammer to break a steel door, gaining access to the businessman’s bedroom.

There, they held him at gunpoint and forced him to lie on the floor while the other bandits demanded cash and jewelry. According to the 48-year-old cambio dealer, he told the bandits he did not have money and one of the bandits rushed up to him, threatening him with a cutlass. And at this point, he handed over some money. The bandits ransacked the home and took away jewelry worth over $1M and over $20 million in US and Guyana currency. The bandits also took away the surveillance footage from the home before making good their escape.

Crime scene investigators were able to recover eight spent shells (7.62 * 39), two spent shell gauge cartridges, one warhead, 21 live (7.62* 39) rounds and fire crackers at the scene of the robbery. When this newspaper contacted Churaman on Tuesday, he related that the incident has left him fearful as he has not been able to “sleep or eat”. He is however, thankful that his family was not at home at the time of the incident and that he was not harmed during the hour-long ordeal.