The police said that duct tape with hair attached was discovered yesterday on an access road leading to East Coast cane fields as the search for kidnapped driver Vivickanan Nandalall continued.

The force also said that a total of 87 houses/buildings had been searched and 23 persons arrested, detained and/or questioned thus far in relation to the kidnapping of the 20 year-old.

Amid growing criticism over the handling of the case, the force issued a detailed account of its efforts from the time of the reported abduction, to date, pointing out that several areas had been searched, including Buxton, Eastville, Bare Root, Paradise and the Enterprise backdams, all on the East Coast Demerara.

“The Police Force is cognisant of the apprehensions of some members of the public due to the fact that success has not been achieved, as yet.

We urge all citizens to continue to support law enforcement efforts despite the perceived difficulties and frustrations,” a release from the Police Public Relations Office stated.

Nandalall, of Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara, was snatched on October 16 and early Saturday morning, relatives dropped off $1M ransom, but that failed to produce the seized driver.

The police explained that an intensive search, comprising of over 50 ranks from the Anti-kidnapping Unit, Tactical Services Unit, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Anti -Crime Units, was launched at 9 am on October 17, following the discovery of the car that the victim was driving early last Friday morning. The vehicle was abandoned on the railway embankment at Annandale, East Coast Demerara.

Since then, the police said the following activities were conducted:

** The vehicle was immediately dusted and six sets of fingerprints were uplifted while, between 09:00 and 11:55 hrs, police teams conducted searches in Buxton backlands, cordoned and searched five abandoned houses and homes along Company Road. During this process, one man was arrested, questioned and subsequently released.

The same morning, the force said its ranks visited the victim’s relatives and spent the greater part of the day there until late into the evening.

** From 12:15 to 13:40 hrs, Police teams cordoned and searched four houses and an abandoned house between, Buxton and Strathspey Squatting Area. A quantity of clothing, a pair of boots and some towels were found at Middle Street, at a home.

One woman was arrested during this search. She is presently before the court on several charges from indecent exposure to obstructing a peace officer.

** Between the hours of 14:25 and 15:50, other abandoned buildings were searched in the Bare Root area.

** From 16:15 to 17:00 hrs, ranks searched a shop at Friendship, following a ransom call. Seven persons were arrested and subsequently released on bail on October 18.

** Then from 17:10 to 17:50 hrs, seven other houses were searched at Brushe Dam, Friendship. One man was arrested for questioning and later released.

** Later in the evening of the October 17, the ransom demand was reduced from $5M to $1M. The following morning, about 04:00 hrs, this money was delivered, but the victim was not seen and there was no further contact from the kidnappers.

** At 09:15 until 09:55 hrs, the police searched three houses and an abandoned building at Watson Street, North Friendship.

** From 10:35 to 11:05 hrs, the police searched six stalls at Company Road market, following a tip off that one of the suspects was earlier seen on the railway embankment at Buxton.

Three men were arrested and later released on bail.

** Between 11:20 to 12:35 hrs, four houses were searched between Church of God Road and Sideline Dam in Buxton.

** Then from 13:15 to 15:00 hrs, ranks cordoned and searched four houses between Brushe Dam, Annandale and Golden Grove. A woman, suspected of being an acquaintance of one of the suspects, was arrested, processed and later released on bail on October 19.

** At 15:35 hrs, based on information, four persons were arrested, but no useful information obtained.

** From 16:30 to 16:35 hrs, a house at Company Road was cordoned and searched.

** Between 16:55 to 17:30 hrs, ranks patrolled the Bare Root area and questioned a number of persons, but obtained no useful information.

** During the hours of 18:05 to 18:25 hrs, two persons went to the police claiming that they were wanted in relation to the kidnapping, they were processed and later released on October 19.

** On October 19, between 11:00 to 13:00 hrs, 13 abandoned houses were searched in the Bare Root area.

** At 12:00 hrs, the home of a relative of one of the suspects was searched.

** Between 13:15 to 14:05 hrs, the police teams conducted searches in the Eastville backdam area.

** At 15:20 hrs, acting on information, a woman from Bachelor’s Adventure, was arrested, processed and later released.

** Then at 15:35 hrs, an electrician who had allegedly made a call on October 16, from a shop of a relative of the victim was arrested. He was subsequently released.

** On October 20, between 06:00 hrs and 16:15 hrs, the police searched two abandoned houses, at Middle Street, Buxton; an unfinished Church at Paradise Housing Scheme; two houses and two unfinished buildings at Buxton; and two abandoned houses in Buxton, Sideline/East Ville area. A Police beret, a pair of army boots and a first aid book were found.

** Then yesterday, between 05:15 to 06:45 hrs, ranks conducted searches at one of the abandoned buildings in Bare Root and Bachelor’s Adventure. A piece of duct-tape with hair attached was found along the access road leading to the cane fields.

The force said, “from the time of the report of the kidnapping to this morning (yesterday) several other activities inherent to law enforcement have been conducted, but due to their nature, information cannot be divulged.”