Bus driver, other arrested with illegal motorbikes

A minibus driver was yesterday arrested at Linden after three motorcycles that had been brought into the country illegally through Lethem were found in his vehicle.

Police said in a press release that 12:55 hrs police ranks at a roadblock at Wisroc, Wismar, stopped and searched a minibus in which the three motorcycles were found.

“The civilian driver and a civilian passenger have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations. A policeman who was also a passenger in the vehicle was placed under close arrest after he was found to have left his station district without permission,” the release said.

The release said that contrary to an article posted today on the Demerara Waves Website, no police rank has been arrested in relation to the motorcycles.

Sources in Lethem told this newspaper that there is an ongoing “racket” where motorcycles coming from Brazil are allowed to leave the Lethem area without the relevant taxes being paid. It was noted too that the “racket” also involved the stealing of motorcycles brought in from that the neighbouring country.