TWO Venezuelans, who are suspected to be members of the feared ‘Sindicato’ gang and who were busted on a boat with grenades in their possession, were on Monday, January 21, 2019, charged and placed before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Luis Gonsalves and Daniel Contreras, who are both 27 years old, were separately charged and placed before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.
The charges alleged that both men had in their possession, a live grenade on January 17, 2019 at Mode Hill, Cuyuni River.

The duo, through the aid of an interpreter, pleaded guilty to the charge and told the court that a “big one” on the boat gave them the grenades and ordered them to put the objects in the crotch of their pants.

The men added that, if they failed to comply with the instruction, the “big one” threatened to hurt their families. The magistrate entered a not guilty plea on their behalf.
Police Prosecutor Corporal, Quinn Harris, told the court that on the day in question, ranks from the Joint Service were on patrol along the Cuyuni River when they saw a boat with several passengers.

The vessel was contacted and was searched. During a ‘pat down’, Gonsalves and Contreras were each found with a grenade stashed inside the crotch of their pants.
The prosecutor added that Gonsalves was the second-in-command of the ‘Sindicato’ gang and Contreras was a senior member of the group.

After listening to the prosecution’s case, the magistrate remanded the duo to prison until March 18, 2019 and transferred the matter to the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court.