Colombian, Venezuelan charged for illegally landing aircraft in Guyana

Two foreigners, who landed at the Mahdia Airstrip in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) in an unmarked aircraft, were on Tuesday remanded to prison.

Juan David Caicedo Villa, 32, a pilot of Villavicencio, Colombia, and 48-year-old Gustavo Adolfo Riascos Gomez, a pilot and businessman of Tachira San Cristobal, Venezuela, both appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The duo was first charged for entering Guyana illegally on November 4, 2021.  It is further alleged that on the same day in question, they had two grams of cannabis in their possession.

The men pleaded not guilty to both charges and were remanded to prison until November 16.

According to police reports on the day in question at around 18:00 hrs, the men circled the airstrip before landing.

The men came out of the aircraft and told police: “We are lost, we came from Venezuela and going to look for gold.”

The men were confronted by police in front of Trans Guyana’s hanger.

The men and the aircraft were searched but nothing illegal was found, however, three 15 gallon drums – two of which contained fuel, a hammock with net, a bag with clothing and personal effects were on the aircraft.

Inside the aircraft, police discovered a black bag with identification cards; documents; a Garmin GPS; one Iridium Phone (satellite phone); an Icom radio set; a spot trace device; two phone chargers; an earpiece; a lighter; a torchlight; one Motorola phone; a Samsung phone; a knife; two wristwatches; a wallet; two grams of suspected cannabis and bamboo wrap.