Mahdia police detain six after search of mining camp

The guns, ammunition and cannabis found at the mining camp.
The guns, ammunition and cannabis found at the mining camp.

Six persons were arrested at a mining camp in Mahdia, Region 8 yesterday after a search by police unearthed two firearms, ammunition and a small quantity of cannabis.

Stabroek News was told that a party of policemen from the  Mahdia Police Station were on patrol in the Backdam when they stopped at a mining camp where they met six persons who included the owner, Devon Mendonca and conducted the searches.

During the search, one 380 KEL-TEC pistol bearing serial # HRY 25 and its magazine with two .32 live rounds of ammunition along with 6 grammes of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis were found in a haversack. Upon the discovery, Mendonca, 34, of 111 Miles, Mahdia, Potaro River informed the police that the items were his. Police said he was cautioned and told of the offences before being arrested.

A further search, police said, found a pistol in a hammock, that belongs to another miner, who denied having knowledge of the firearm.

The other persons who were also at the camp denied knowledge of the firearm and were subsequently arrested and taken into custody at the Mahdia Police Station.