Bartica boat captain among two allegedly abducted by Venezuelan gang

Police in Region Seven are investigating the alleged abduction of a Guyanese boat captain and another man in the Cuyuni River area.

One of the missing men has been identified as 66-year-old Fredrick Pollard, a boat captain of Bartica, Essequibo River.

The identity of the other victim is not known. The men are believed to have been abducted by a Venezuelan gang.

According to reports reaching the News Room, Pollard was operating a metal boat, which he used to shuttle fuel for a businessman between Devil Hole Landing and Ekereku Backdam.

His son reportedly told the Police that Pollard left Devil Hole Landing on August 21 around 05:00 hrs for a fuel trip.

Pollard last contacted his son on August 24 at 07:05 hrs, informing him that he was returning from Ekereku Backdam with an unidentified porter aboard. The son has not heard from his father since.

The son told the Police that he subsequently received a call from an unknown individual who claimed that his father is being held captive by the Syndicato gang near Botanamu Creek, Essequibo River.

Investigators, the News Room learnt, have since interviewed a 36-year-old boat captain living in San Martín, Venezuela. He reportedly indicated that while traveling near Black Water Mouth with nine passengers, his boat was intercepted by Syndicato members, who forced them into a creek at gunpoint.

There, he and his passengers saw Pollard and another male alive and being held captive. The boat captain claimed that the abductors later took a drum of fuel from his vessel before ordering him and the others to leave.

The News Room was reliably informed that the nine passengers were contacted and questioned by local Police, and they have corroborated the boat captain’s account.

The News Room understands that the investigation remains active and efforts are being made to secure the safe release of Pollard and the second unidentified victim.