Prime suspect in illegal aircraft probe in custody

A businessman from Tabinga, Lethem, who was being sought for questioning in relation to an illegal aircraft which was found at Santa Fe, North Rupununi, Region 9 on August 13 of this year, is finally in police custody.

According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the prime suspect, who fled Guyana shortly after the discovery, was handed over to the police in the presence of his Attorney and will be brought to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters in Georgetown for further investigation.

“He is in custody of a team of detectives led by a Senior Officer who travelled to Lethem two days ago to receive him,” the police said.

On August 13, 2017, the twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft was discovered at a 5,400-foot long, 45-foot wide illegal airstrip in the Santa Fe Area, North Rupununi, Region 9, by the police after some four weeks of surveillance which began when the aircraft was noticed circling the area.

At the time of the discovery, three men were allegedly seen running from the aircraft. They were never found.

The police had stated that the airstrip itself was previously destroyed by the Guyana Defense Force and appeared to have been recently repaired.

On checking the aircraft, a quantity of dry ration, medical supplies, gents clothing and footwear, two hand-held radios, flashlights, cellular phones and an identification card amongst other items were found.

A search of the area surrounding the illegal airstrip had unearthed three abandoned camps in which canned food and other items were found.  Additionally, 16 10-gallon containers, which are suspected to have contained aviation fuel, were also discovered.