Skeldon man killed during anti-smuggling raid

A Skeldon man is dead and three people are in custody including a member of the Berbice anti-Smuggling squad (BASS) following a shooting on the Corentyne yesterday.

According to a police press release, the incident which resulted in the death of Charles Caesar, 40, of Line Path, Skeldon, occurred on the Number 66 Village Foreshore around 12.55 am yesterday.

Police said Caesar was taken to the Skeldon Hospital with a suspected gunshot injury and succumbed while receiving medical treatment.

According to Caesar’s relatives, they were informed of the tragic incident shortly after 1 am. The relatives explained that the details pertaining to death of Caesar who is also of Fyrish village were sketchy.

However, they said the information they received was that Caesar and six others were at the foreshore offloading goods when they were told to stop by members of BASS. The men were reportedly told to lie on the ground, but some ran away instead and a shot was fired.

The men were arrested and taken to the police station. However, when investigators counted the number of the men taken into custody they realised that one of the men was missing. They returned to the scene, where they discovered the wounded Caesar.

According to police, three persons, including a member of BASS, who is on close arrest, are in police custody assisting with investigations.

Caesar leaves to mourn his two children, siblings and other relatives and friends. Investigations are ongoing.