In the wake of the robbery at the Engineering Construction Incorporated (ECI), during which masked gunmen escaped with millions in booty via the Demerara River, police have said that there are usually two river patrols but one is currently down.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that one of the patrol boats is based at Wales. However, the engine for the Wales patrol boat is not working, he said, and as a result that patrol has not been functioning.
The second patrol boat for the Demerara River operates from Ruimveldt and patrols a section of the waterway throughout the night time hours, Persaud said.
Early Thursday morning seven masked men, four armed with guns, attacked the two guards at ECI. The guards were assaulted, their hands and feet tied together and the attackers escaped with millions in equipment and a safe containing $472,000.
Several efforts made to contact relevant officials at ECI for a comment have been futile. In March, the company had also declined to comment after a similar attack. There has still been no word on the exact value of the stolen items.
The crime chief further said that he did not understand how the two guards — Chandrapaul Frederick and Frankie Jaigopaul – could say that they saw the attackers escape in the Demerara River when they were tied up and locked in a washroom at ECI.
According to Persaud, the guards told police that the attackers ran in a westerly direction (towards the river) after they had gathered the booty. Given that the men were on the floor in a building, Persaud said, he did not see how they could have seen such a thing. He further said that police have not been able to arrest anyone in connection to the incident.
Earlier this year the crime chief had told this newspaper that police were doing all they could to provide security to those businesses and residents living along the river. However, he had pointed out that the availability of resources was limiting the police’s performance in this area.
Jaigopaul, 69, told Stabroek News on Thursday night that the gunmen had assaulted his colleague but he was lucky not to get a beating himself. The man was working at ECI since the first attack in March and said that since then he has been calling on the company to improve the security measures.
Meanwhile, the man said yesterday afternoon that as of last night he and Frederick were back on the job.
In a press release issued Thursday evening, police said the robbery occurred around 1.30 am. The two watchmen, they reported, were attacked by the seven men, four of whom were armed with guns.
Investigations, according to police, revealed that the men escaped with a quantity of electrical tools including drills, saws and sanding machines along with a safe containing $472,000. The police report did not provide a value for the stolen equipment but this newspaper understands that they are worth more than $3 million.
Police further said that it is suspected that the men escaped by way of the Demerara River.
