—disputes GCAA report of several drones, says one belonged to photographer
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed was rearrested tonight, shortly after being released on self-bail from the Leonora Police Station, following an earlier interception which police linked to security concerns near President Irfaan Ali’s private residence.
Mohamed and party representatives, including councillors and a Member of Parliament, were taken into custody at the end of a live broadcast on the Team Mohamed’s Facebook page. The police officers informed them that they were videoing the area even though Mohamed and others argued they were on a public roadway. They were instructed to turn off the camera and enter the police station compound.
During the broadcast, Mohamed disputed a statement by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) that several unregistered drones had reportedly been discovered in two intercepted vehicles. He said police had found one drone, which belonged to his photographer.
“I was just released on self-bail,” Mohamed said at the beginning of his account, explaining that he was outside the Leonora Police Station.
He said his driver and photographer remained in custody, along with another man whom he maintained had not been travelling with them. According to Mohamed, that man had greeted him earlier in Leonora before going about his business and was subsequently intercepted in the vicinity of Crane.
Mohamed said police had put an allegation to him that a drone had been flown over the President’s residence. He denied this and said the photographer was willing to give investigators access to the device and its footage.
“They found one drone,” he said. “Of course the drone belongs to the photographer.”
His account provided further details following an earlier video in which he said a search had uncovered nothing and denied owning a drone.
In the later broadcast, Mohamed said an officer took possession of the photographer’s drone during the roadside search before directing them to the Leonora station, where another search was conducted.
Mohamed repeatedly argued that the drone could not operate near the President’s residence because the area was a no-fly zone.
He also denied the police account that the vehicles had sped away, calling on investigators to examine camera footage.
According to Mohamed, he had visited Leonora with his driver and photographer at approximately 6 pm to examine sea-defence works after residents raised concerns.
He said they travelled towards the seawall but did not turn into the road leading to the President’s residence.
Following his release, Mohamed walked through the area with party representatives, describing where he said he had been earlier and pointing out the sea-defence works.
Towards the end of the broadcast, police engaged the group and directed them into the station.
“What is the offence?” members of the group repeatedly asked.
Mohamed questioned whether they were being arrested for walking along a public road.
The initial police statement said that at approximately 6.20 pm on Thursday, September 3, two heavily tinted vehicles were observed “acting in a suspicious manner” near the President’s private residence at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
Police alleged that the occupants sped away after observing the vigilance of Presidential Guards. A distress call was issued and patrols were alerted, resulting in both vehicles being intercepted.
In a subsequent public notice, the GCAA said it had received a report concerning two heavily tinted vehicles carrying four occupants near the President’s residence.
“The vehicles were subsequently intercepted, and several unregistered drones were reportedly discovered in the possession of the occupants,” the authority stated.
It warned that unauthorised drone operations in restricted or prohibited airspace are illegal and may constitute offences under the Civil Aviation Act 2018 and applicable regulations.
The authority said it would work with law-enforcement and national security agencies to take action against persons found to be operating drones unlawfully.
Mohamed said he visited the area to inspect sea-defence works after residents complained that the works ended at a particular point, leaving an adjoining section lower. He said he wanted to examine their concerns and denied entering the road leading to the President’s residence.
A statement from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority follows:
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has received a report concerning two heavily tinted motor vehicles carrying four occupants in the vicinity of the President’s residence at Leonora.
The vehicles were subsequently intercepted, and several unregistered drones were reportedly discovered in the possession of the occupants.
The GCAA takes this matter very seriously and reminds the public that the unauthorised operation of drones, including unmanned aircraft within restricted or prohibited airspace, is illegal and may constitute a criminal offence under the Civil Aviation Act 2018 and applicable aviation regulations.
Members of the public are hereby warned that the operation of drones in restricted airspace, near protected locations, or in any manner that compromises aviation safety, national security or public safety will not be tolerated.
The GCAA, together with the relevant law-enforcement and national security authorities, will take all appropriate action against persons found to be operating drones unlawfully.
Offenders will be subject to the full force of the law, including prosecution and all applicable penalties.
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority remains resolute in its mandate to uphold the highest standards of aviation safety, security and regulatory compliance throughout Guyana.
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