Taxi driver arrested for bomb threats claimed he was paid by Venezuelans

Investigators probing a series of recent bomb threats have arrested a 42-year-old taxi driver who admitted to issuing the threats, claiming two Venezuelans paid him.

In custody is Travis Damian Francis Roberts of Princes Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. He was arrested on Wednesday.

Roberts was questioned and admitted to the threats issued between August 31, 2024, and September 1, 2024. The threats were made to the Marriott Hotel, Caribbean Airlines at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, and the Guyana National Stadium.

Roberts was questioned by ranks of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, where he admitted to the offenses.

According to details provided, Roberts claimed that he was plying his trade on August 31 in Georgetown, making several drops. Reports indicate that he went home but felt uneasy, so he returned to the road to continue working.

At some point, he was approached by two Venezuelan nationals who proposed a “scheme” to him. The scheme involved issuing bomb threats at the requested locations in exchange for $15,000. Roberts agreed and made the calls.

Afterward, he went to the Marriott Hotel for a meal. While there, he told investigators he observed fire and police officers, along with emergency medical responders, arriving. Despite this, he remained at the location and did not reveal that he was the caller who made the bomb threat.

Roberts’ cell phone was examined, and it was revealed that the number used for the calls matched his own. He remains in custody pending further investigation.