Law enforcement authorities were up to late last night searching for three gunmen who abandoned a boat with a quantity of arms and ammunition during a shoot-out with security forces in Mahaicony earlier in the day.

Police said that based upon evidence they unearthed so far the men might have been planning to launch an attack on one of the villages in the area. In a statement last night, the Guyana Police Force said that about 2 pm yesterday police ranks responded to information that a boat with a number of men was seen in the Zeskendren, Mahaicony drainage canal area. Upon arrival in the area the police saw three men aboard a boat.

According to the police statement the men opened fire on the ranks who took evasive action and returned fire. The men however abandoned the boat and escaped into some thick bush north of the canal, the police statement said.

The law enforcement officials however conducted a search of the wooden boat which carried a 75hp Yamaha outboard engine and recovered: one M-72 rifle with five magazines and 80 rounds 7.62 x 39 ammunition; one berretta pistol with two magazines and 60 rounds 9 mm. ammunition; a semi automatic rifle with two magazines and 42 rounds 9 mm. ammunition; one telescopic lens; two camouflage jackets; two cutlasses; one torchlight and two bottles of mosquito repellent.

Additionally, the statement said more troops were rushed into the area and overflights were conducted.

The lawmen also set up roadblocks at strategic locations and up to late last night these were in place as the operation continues.

Gunmen over the years have virtually controlled certain villages on the East Coast of Demerara and have frequently carried out attacks on communities along the lower East Coast, killing and maiming residents.