Venezuelan, Cuban among 9 arrested with guns, drugs

A Venezuelan, one Cuban and a Jamaican national are among nine persons who were arrested with two rifles, a quantity of live matching rounds and suspected cannabis at North West District, Region One on Tuesday.

According to information received, a group of police along with the Army’s Coast Guard, acting on information received, visited the Barima River, North West District where they intercepted one metal boat captained by a 62-year-old male of Jack Low, Pomeroon River. The boat, in which there were also three other occupants, was towing a blue and grey fiberglass boat carrying another five passengers.

The News Room was informed that a search was conducted on the blue and grey fiberglass boat and two AK 47s, two magazines and nineteen live matching rounds and one black bulletproof vest were found under the bow.

A further search unearthed a black handbag containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

As a result of the discoveries, the boat captain, 62-year-old Carrigon Khan of the Pomeroon River was taken into custody with the other passengers. The other passengers were: 19-year-old Junior Jack of Mabaruma, North West District; 38-year-old Donstant Rodrigues of Mora Moruca, North West District; a 25-year-old Cuban national, Samuel Alvaroz, 49-year-old Shawn Phang of Port Kaituma, North West District; 44-year-old Dexter Valensuelaof Crane, West Coast Demerara; 48 year old Corwin Griffith of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; 53 year old Delroy Mairs, a Jamaican National who is also of Albouystown; and a 33-year old Venezuelan National, Rafael Ramon.

The suspected cannabis was weighed in their presence and amounted to 1.5 kg.

The investigation is ongoing.