Masked bandits with cutlasses rattle gold miner from sleep; later captured with loot

A 50-year-old miner of Block ‘8’ Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) was on Friday night robbed of $850,000 in cash and other items.

However, the items and almost half of the cash were later recovered when police arrested two suspects in a boat at the Bartica Stelling.

Police said Joao Dsosristinto was robbed at Takatu Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven at around 23:30hrs on Friday. The miner was reportedly sleeping at his mining camp along with his cook and another worker when he was attacked.

He was reportedly awoken by two masked men, armed with cutlasses, who entered his camp and tied him up before robbing him of $850,000 in cash, one Samsung S7 cell phone valued $50,000, another Samsung cellphone valued 15,000, four perfume valued $58,000 and 14 pennyweights of raw good valued $186,000.

According to the police, acting on information received, a team of ranks went to the Bartica Ferry Stelling where two suspects were arrested. The men were heading to Parika, EBE.

They were escorted to Bartica Police Station, a short distance away, where they were searched and the items along with $400,000 cash were recovered.

They admitted to the crime and the investigation is ongoing.