Four held in army/police raid in Berbice still in custody
Businessman had previously imported military surplus
Stabroek News
August 14, 2002
Investigations continued yesterday into the unearthing of sophisticated radios, military-type equipment and immigration stamps at the home of one of the four persons arrested during an army/police operation in Berbice on Monday.
Stabroek News was told yesterday that the four, including a Surinamese and a Brazilian, were being held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary along with the seized items as investigations proceed.
A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) statement on Monday had said that the arrest came as Operation Tourniquet - its exercise with the police - intensified activities to identify criminals who have been attempting to purchase army kit and equipment.
The arrests also came in wake of the detention of four members of the GDF on Friday and Saturday over the sale and attempted sale of weapons.
It is understood that the army and police ranks moved in on the Berbice homes of the persons held at around 5:30 am and made their arrests after the articles were found.
The Guyanese arrested are Mohamed Shahuruddin also called `Plantain' of Lot 168, Albert Street, Number 79, Corriverton, Salim Bacchus, of 138 Line Path D, Corriverton, the brother of notorious criminal Azad Bacchus, who was shot and killed earlier this year during a shootout with the members of the Berbice Anti- Smuggling Squad (BASS).
Also arrested were Amanda Sireli-Dos, a Brazilian national and Sockhia Yohen, a Surinamese national, both of whom were found at the home of Bacchus.
At the home of Bacchus, ranks also found and seized a 3-VHF base station radio, a 1-VHF base station radio, five cellular phones, one pair of night vision goggles, one Silva navigation map plotter, one blank Republic of Suriname passport, one Guyana passport #0958738 issued to Neil Chasawa, one Netherlands passport issued to Ricardo Doekhi, one Suriname immigration stamp, one Suriname Nickerie stamp, one date stamp, and eight packs of firecrackers.
This is not the first time Shahuruddin has found himself at the centre of an investigation. On September 27, 2000 he had imported a container which contained military surplus. The items were discovered on November 18, 2000 at the John Fernandes Limited Wharf.
Following investigations by the Guyana Police Force and the Customs and Trade Administration (CTA) it was announced by the CTA Commissioner Lambert Marks at a press conference that the contents of the container would be handed over to the police to be shared with the GDF.
The press conference was also chaired by then Crime Chief, Floyd McDonald and it was said that the 1x40 container was imported under the heading #ZCSU801348-9. Marks had said that the Customs Act prohibited importation of military surplus items and that the importer appeared to be a regular importer of items which he felt he could sell to make a profit.
When he was asked why the importer decided to donate the items Marks had said that the country is a poor one and any donation would be welcome. It was said at the press conference that the container also carried blankets, a few tents and a few duffle bags among other things.
Many questions were raised after the announcement as to why the consignee was not charged with an offence and also what was the purpose for importing the items.
Meanwhile, sources at the GDF say that the army is continuing investigations into the discovery of two weapons and a loaded magazine in the Coast Guard barracks where three of the four soldiers were arrested. The fourth soldier was detained after it was learnt he took an M70 rifle from one his three colleagues and organised a sale to a Berbice businessman causing the army to turn its attention to the Ancient County and leading to the arrest of the quartet.