London arms cache probe nears completion
The joint enquiry by the police and army into the source of the weaponry and ammunition which were found in Linden 'Blackie' London's room at the Toucan Guest House, Eccles should be completed shortly. The enquiry was ordered by Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj, following reports that one of the weapons, a Sterling sub-machine gun, had been in the possession of the police but had never been reported missing. Ballistics tests have linked the gun to robberies at Vryheid's Lust, Cummings Lodge and Industry Housing Scheme in which police said London was involved. Stabroek News understands that the Sterling sub-machine gun the number of which is KR 97281 had been in the possession of the Presidential Guard but had been handed back to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). It has been reliably informed that there is documentation to support the hand over. This newspaper understands that the weapon had been originally passed to the police in May 1992. Among the other weapons found in the Toucan apartment were a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, an AK47 assault rifle and a 9 mm pistol. Army sources have stated that the model of the AK47 was not the same as that used by the GDF. This weapon was said to have been used during the robbery at Chelsea Park, Mahaica, one of the post-1998 robberies in which London and his gang were said to have been involved. The police have issued no statement on whether the 9 mm pistol found in London's armoury was the one reportedly stolen during one of the post 1998 robberies and whether the person from whom it was stolen was a licensed firearm holder. Gajraj has told Stabroek News that the source of the weaponry and the location of London's share of the loot from the robberies he committed were part of the investigation being carried out by the police. Reports say that the robberies between 1998 and the time of London's death last month netted an estimated $100 million in cash and jewellery. The police have also not issued any statement on their probe of the white car which was associated with the robberies on the East Coast Demerara. London was killed by security forces after an 11-hour stand-off at the Toucan Guest House. He was killed as he emerged from the apartment in which he was holed up after the building had been set on fire by an anti-tank missile fired by the security forces. The police had also found grenades in London's armoury and there are reports that these are of Dutch manufacture.
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