National Security Advisor Gerry Gouveia says the Government is treating the recent seizure of 23 AK-47 rifles and more than 500 rounds of ammunition with the utmost seriousness and he assured that extensive investigations are under way to determine the source and intended destination of the weapons.
In a statement, Gouveia said the authorities are “very concerned” about the discovery but emphasized that the successful interception of the firearms demonstrates the effectiveness of Guyana’s law enforcement and security agencies.
“The weapons were intercepted and seized by members of Guyana’s law enforcement and security agencies who work every day to protect our country and its citizens. Their actions prevented these illegal firearms from reaching their intended destination and potentially being used to threaten public safety,” he stated.
Gouveia noted that the seizure is evidence that security agencies remain vigilant and capable of disrupting criminal activity.
“A threat was identified, intercepted, and is now the subject of an active investigation. Investigators are pursuing all available leads to identify the source of the weapons, their intended recipients, and any criminal networks involved in their importation or distribution,” he said.
The National Security Advisor added that no responsible government could take such a discovery lightly and assured that the matter is receiving the highest level of attention from the country’s security services.
“The Government of Guyana takes this incident seriously and is committed to strengthening security measures wherever necessary to further reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future,” Gouveia stated, while expressing confidence in the professionalism and effectiveness of the country’s law enforcement agencies.
His comments come amid growing public concern following the discovery of more than 30 AK-47 rifles within the space of a month.
Yesterday, Opposition Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Toshana Famey called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the seizure, describing the quantity of weapons found as highly unusual.
“My concern is that 23 AK-47 rifles and over 500 rounds of ammunition were found in one operation. That is not something we see every day, and it immediately raises questions about who these weapons were for and what they were intended to be used for,” Famey said.
While commending law enforcement officers for the seizure, she argued that attention must now focus on uncovering the full circumstances behind the operation.
“The authorities must establish where these weapons came from, who was involved in moving them, who was supposed to receive them, and whether there are additional persons connected to the matter,” she stated.
The latest weapons bust occurred last Friday during a joint operation conducted by the Guyana Police Force and the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara.
According to Crime Chief and Deputy Commissioner of Police Wendell Blanhum, officers intercepted a motor vehicle carrying three occupants. Two of the men escaped while a third suspect was apprehended after attempting to flee and remains in police custody.
Blanhum said the rifles are being examined by firearm experts attached to the Criminal Investigation Department’s Crime Laboratory. He disclosed that the weapons were manufactured in the United States and that only one rifle retained an intact serial number, while the serial numbers on the remaining rifles had been obliterated.
The discovery follows another major weapons seizure on May 22, when 10 AK-47 rifles were recovered during a law enforcement operation along the No. 11 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.
The back-to-back discoveries have revived memories of the infamous theft of 30 AK-47 rifles and five pistols from the Guyana Defence Force armoury, many of which later surfaced in the hands of criminals during the violent crime wave that affected Guyana between 2002 and 2007.
With more than 30 assault rifles now recovered in separate operations within a month, investigators are under increasing pressure to determine how the weapons entered the country, who was responsible for importing them, and whether organized criminal networks are involved.
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