'Blackie' arsenal probe still on
The investigation into the source of arms used by Linden 'Blackie' London who was slain by security forces after a more than 11-hour shoot out at an East Bank Demerara hotel in February has still not been completed. Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj told reporters in March that the investigation into the sources of the various weapons which were discovered in the debris of the Toucan Guest House from which London had held the police and army at bay was nearing completion. Gajraj had ordered the probe following reports that one of the weapons, a Sterling sub-machine gun, had been in the possession of the police but was never reported missing. Stabroek News understands that the Sterling sub-machine gun the number of which is KR 97281 had been in possession of the Presidential Guard but was handed back to the police force's 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. However, since then the minister told the media that the police had explained that the completion time he had given for the joint investigation was overly optimistic. Army spokesman, Capt Wycliffe McAllister, when asked about the status of the investigation yesterday, referred enquiries to the police or the Ministry of Home Affairs. He explained that the investigation of criminal matters was outside the mandate of the army. The spokesman also said that he had no knowledge of any army personnel being asked to help in the investigation. The Sterling sub-machine gun, the police had said, had been used in a number of robberies with which London had been associated. The weapon was linked through ballistics tests to armed robberies at Vryheid's Lust and Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, on August 16, according to a police release. These were also robberies for which London was wanted. The release also linked the sub-machine gun along with another weapon from London's arsenal--a 12-gauge Mossberg shotgun--to another robbery on September 17, at Industry Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara. Another London-related investigation on which the police have so far not been able to provide information is the whereabouts of London's share of the more than $100 million he and his gang netted in the robberies for which he was wanted for questioning by the police.
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