Venezuelan soldier had intercepted boat with ganja before being shot

While investigations continue into the shooting of a Venezuelan soldier by two Venezuelan nationals on Saturday, police reported that the incident may be drug related.

The incident occurred at Imbotero Landing, North West District, where the victim, 28-year-old, Edmundo Luis Berti Garcia, a Lieutenant in the Venezuelan National Guard stationed at the Guyana/Venezuela border, was shot and injured by two of his countryme.

Police on Sunday reported that on April 19, 2021, the victim had intercepted a boat carrying a quantity of cannabis.

The narcotics were reportedly seized and the two suspects were subsequently released.

Police said that the victim reportedly crossed the border into Guyana at Imbotero on Saturday when he was confronted by the suspects, each armed with a firearm who opened fire hitting him to his body.

The two suspects then escaped, while Garcia was assisted out of the river by public spirited persons and rushed to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital by ranks stationed at Imbotero.

While receiving medical attention at the hospital, the victim requested to be taken back to Venezuela for further treatment and this was later facilitated by a team of police and Guyana Defence Force ranks who escorted him to the Guyana/Venezuela border and handed him over to another Officer of the Venezuelan National Guard.