AMID concerns about gun crimes police have managed so far for the year to seize some 30 illegal guns, seven of them high-powered rifles of which four were collected this week.According to police reports, since January they have picked up 15 illegal pistols; four revolvers; four shotguns and seven rifles. Only on Friday ranks of the Major Crime Unit, Criminal Investigation Department, Headquarters conducted an operation at Cumingslodge, East Coast Demerara and unearthed one AK-47 rifle and one .223 Ruger rifle, both high-powered weapons were found wrapped in plastic garbage bags in an attempt to conceal them, in the corner of a trench. Two persons are currently in police custody assisting with the investigation. The two rifles are currently being examined by the Guyana Police Force’s firearm examination experts.

Friday’s find comes one day after a thirty-three-year-old East Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara businessman was taken into custody after police conducted a search at his home and found two unlicensed assault rifles fitted with magazines. The weapons: an AK-47 and an M-70 were found inside a duffer bag, hidden under a commercial gas stove.

Also on Thursday, a man was caught by alert police ranks, moments after he discarded what is believed to be a loaded gun in a trench at Hampshire Village, Corentyne, Berbice. This newspaper understands that at approximately 16:45hrs on Thursday, the suspect was walking along a street in Hampshire Village when, upon noticing an approaching police van, he ran. While running, the ranks observed that he threw away an item in a nearby trench. They proceeded to chase him on foot, while other ranks retrieved the item, which turned out to be a gun. Scores of residents came out to witness the drama, as police captured the suspect. The ranks were praised for their bravery and timely intervention.

On the same day a resident of Mabaruma, North West District found a .380 automatic pistol behind his yard about 15:30hrs and promptly handed it over same to the police. Then in another find Police in ‘F’ Division on Tuesday arrested a 35-year-old resident of Lake Main Stay, Essequibo River, for unlawful possession of a .45 Taurus pistol with six live matching rounds at Omai Landing. The suspect, who is a machine operator, was observed acting in a suspicious manner and a search was conducted on his person, which revealed the unlicensed weapon. He is being processed for court.

On March 3, police reported that ranks on a mobile patrol in the vicinity of the North Ruimveldt Market, observed a male acting in a suspicious manner. He was apprehended and searched and an unlicensed .32 Taurus pistol with ten (10) live matching rounds was found on his person. The thirty-eight year old suspect, who is said to be a miner and resides in Safari Street, North Ruimveldt, is also being processed for court.

Additionally, on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 ranks in ‘A’ Division acting on information received went to Long Creek, Linden Highway and carried out a search in two farm houses and found in excess of 11 kilograms of dried cannabis, an unlicensed shotgun and five cartridges. Lindon Gordon, Artlain Menture, Devin Sandwell and a juvenile were arrested and charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.

President David Granger, back in November last year, had said he believes weapons should be used by law enforcement agencies, and not private citizens and that there are licensed holders of firearms who rent their weapons to criminals. President Granger had said continuing efforts are being employed to detect persons entering Guyana with illegal firearms, and a plethora of measures will be implemented. The President said he is not oblivious to the fact that Guyana’s problem is its 1100km border shared with Brazil, one of the largest producers and exporters of arms in the world.

President Granger said a number of illegal firearms in circulation here have been traced to Brazil. “So we will, in the fullness of time, reduce the issuance of legal firearms by enforcing stricter border control through aerial surveillance, through mounted police, and eventually through drones.”

At the end of last month, the Guyana Police Force recorded a 17 per cent reduction in serious crimes. However, over the past month, there have been several armed robberies across the country.