Suspect in arms cache find turns himself in

Mark Cromwell, the man being sought in connection with the hair-raising arms cache found at the GNIC wharf on Lombard Street, yesterday turned himself over to the police in the company of an attorney, Crime Chief Leslie James has confirmed.

James told Stabroek News last evening that Cromwell, an ex-cop was still being questioned at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Cromwell called `Demon’ on Sunday following the arrest of his relative who was listed as the consignee of the box in which the weapons were found.

Police had said in a press release last Friday that during the clearing of a cargo consignment at the GNIC Wharf by Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officials, a cache of arms and ammunition was found comprising two AK 47 rifles, four 40 pistols, eleven 9mm. pistols, fifteen extra magazines for the firearms, 489 various calibre rounds for the firearms and a body protection vest. The consignment had been shipped by a Ron Murphy from Miami, USA. The guns were discovered in a black haversack inside the box.

Mark Cromwell
Mark Cromwell

So far the police have charged Jamal Murphy who is Cromwell’s younger brother. Sources have said that the shipper shares no relation to the two men.

Stabroek News has since learnt that when the discovery was made Murphy was not present and as such he had to be summoned. During the court appearance the court was told by the prosecution that Murphy told officers that the contents of the box were to be delivered to a third person, identified as David Johnson.

Asked for an update earlier yesterday James said local authorities have heard nothing from their counterparts in the US but opined that this may be because they are “still doing work”.

James said that Cromwell who was arrested in 2003 after an army patrol found him in a car with two men who were carrying illegal arms, is known to police. Cromwell did not face criminal charges following that incident but was disciplined at the level of the Force.