Police in a press release said that at about 08:10 hrs, the driver and occupant of a silver grey Toyota Marino motorcar fitted with false number plate PFF 1880, opened fire on the ranks at the checkpoint.

The ranks returned fire hitting both men. The men who were unidentified were pronounced dead on arrival at a city hospital, Police said.

Police said one 9mm pistol with 14 live rounds, one .38 special revolver with rounds, one .357 Luger magnum revolver with six rounds and one GE hand held communication set, were found in the passenger area of the vehicle.

Additionally, a steel plate was discovered fitted behind the rear seat of the vehicle.

Two bulletproof vests, five live rounds and a black haversack with a `toque' inside were found in the trunk of the vehicle.

The car's right side front windshield was shattered and had two bullet holes. In the left side of the rear seat there was a pool of blood.

GUNS, ammunition and other items found in the car. (Police photo)
As Police ranks were at the scene carrying out investigations, the southern carriageway of the public road stretching from the Sparendaam Police Station to the Ogle airport road entrance was cordoned off.

Police said investigations were continuing.

The Police and Army this week launched their most intensive and 'overt' operation since the joint anti-crime fight began last year.

Officials Thursday said `Operation Saline Solution II' is "the most effective" approach at the moment in combating the crime scourge plaguing the country and flushing out criminals from the violence-prone East Coast Demerara village of Buxton.

Lieutenant Commander Gary Best of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) indicated that `Operation Saline Solution II' is a continuation, in a more intensive form, of the previous `Operation Saline Solution I'.

Best said this operation will be "continued and sustained" and described Wednesday's launching as "an overt operation" and "not a covert operation".

He said, too, that the Joint Services operation would entail an intensification of activities between the areas of Lusignan and Paradise, on the East Coast Demerara and would include cordon-and-search exercises, joint patrols, road blocks, the use of the Army helicopter and several other activities aimed at curbing the current crime scourge and maintaining law and order.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Greene told reporters that the Joint Services remain firm in the fight against crime and the maintenance of law and order.