TWO men who were recently listed as wanted by police in connection with an illegal firearms investigation have surrendered to authorities and are now in custody.
Gregory Anthony Persaud, called “Greg,” a 21-year-old washbay attendant of Farm, East Bank Demerara and Antonio Alonzo Lawrie, called “Lanzo,” a 33-year-old businessman and wash bay owner of Farm, East Bank Demerara, turned themselves in on Thursday at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.
The pair were accompanied by their attorney-at-law and were subsequently arrested and placed into police custody.
Their arrest forms part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged possession of firearms which led to the arrest and charging of taxi driver Stephen Rajah.
Rajah was remanded to prison after appearing before the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on May 28 on a charge of possession of firearms. He was not required to plead and the matter was adjourned until June 15.
Police said Rajah was arrested on May 22 after ranks conducting a stop-and-search exercise along the Berbice River Bridge Access Road intercepted a black Toyota Fielder wagon. Investigators alleged that the driver sped away from the scene and escaped.
Acting on information received, police later searched an area along the No. 11 Village Public Road, Corentyne, where 10 AK-47 rifles wrapped in plastic and cloth were discovered.
According to investigators, the weapons bore markings consistent with 7.62x39mm rifles and appeared to have been tampered with in an apparent effort to obscure serial numbers.
Rajah was later intercepted at Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, in the same vehicle and taken into custody.
Police said investigations into the matter remain ongoing.