A BRAZILIAN man is in police custody after ranks in Regional Division #7 found a firearm at around 16:45 hrs on Saturday during a supermarket search at Puruni Landing.

According to a press statement, the ranks, who were on patrol duties, received certain information and proceeded to Sky Supermarket in the area.

“Upon arrival, the ranks requested to carry out searches in the business place, and permission was granted.

“A search was conducted in the bathroom area of the supermarket, where ranks found one black .32 Pistol, along with four (4) suspected live rounds of ammunition in the magazine, hidden on a shelf underneath a pile of clothing,” the statement said.

Jose Mara Ferriera, a 51-year-old miner from Brazil, who was observed a short distance from the restroom area, was contacted and questioned, but he denied knowledge of the firearm.

However, he was arrested and escorted to the Bartica Police Station and placed into custody. He is presently assisting with ongoing investigations.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old was detained on Sunday by police following the discovery of an unlicensed firearm at Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Police said that ranks in Regional Division #6, acting on information, at about 07:30 hrs. went to a house at Number 67 Village, where they conducted a search and found a .32 pistol with no matching rounds of ammunition on the kitchen table.

The teen is assisting investigators.