– had left Region One base without authority
Three coastguards were arrested in a civilian boat at Parika on Sunday with fuel, a service pistol and other items aboard and as police try to determine the reason for their presence there, the Guyana Defence Force yesterday said their absence from their base at Morawhanna in Region One (Barima/Waini) was unauthorized.

Up to press time last evening the men were still in police custody and this newspaper understands that a joint investigation involving the police and the army has been launched.

This incident bears a striking similarity to one that occurred in August during which three coastguards commanded a young gold dealer, Dweive Ramdass into their vessel before reportedly killing him and stealing the $17 million he had in his possession.
In a press release issued yesterday afternoon, the army said that three coastguards, including an officer, were arrested on Sunday at Parika and had made an “unauthorized” trip from the GDF Coastguard Base at Morawhanna in Region One. At the time of their arrest, the release stated, the coastguards had in their possession, three and a half drums of fuel, four cellular phones, one Global Positioning System (GPS) device and $116,000.

The officer in addition had in his possession, his service pistol and five rounds of matching ammunition.
According to the army release, the men aroused suspicion after they reportedly started asking for directions to Parika, while on the Essequibo River. Residents then alerted the police and the men were detained.

At the time, they were travelling in a wooden boat owned by a Better Hope, East Coast Demerara resident who operates a boat service from Charity to the North West District. They were arrested on a directive given by the Chief-of-Staff and are in police custody at the Parika Police Station. The pistol and the other items are in GDF custody.

A joint criminal investigation involving representatives of the Guyana Police Force, the GDF’s G2 Branch and the Coast Guard is in progress, the release said.

Meanwhile, police said the arrest was made around 16:50 hrs and fuel on the boat was suspected to be smuggled. The release also stated that the coastguards were not found with “high powered weapons” as reported in the Kaieteur News.

Contacted yesterday, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said the police are currently investigating “what was the purpose of their mission or what their mission was”.

He stated too that the men were still in custody.
Observers say that this incident is cause for great concern and adds to the fear of persons who use the Essequibo River.