Bandits hit $1M from East Canje poultry depot

Apr 13, 2009 News

Berbice police are on the hunt for two masked bandits who on Saturday afternoon robbed a chicken outlet of over $1M cash.

Proprietress Deomattie Arjune was held at gunpoint.

The men who were carrying a firearm and knife had pounced on the proprietrix of the A. Arjune and Sons located at 33-34 Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice.
At the time the woman’s husband Deonarine Arjune who lives at Belvedere on the Corentyne and operates a similar business at that location, was not at the scene of the robbery.
Deomatie Arjune related that, at about 13:00 hours, she had just checked off some money and placed it in a bag when she suddenly saw two masked men appear at the door.
She said the bandit with the gun discharged a round in the ceiling upon entering the building.
After using a series of expletives, the bandit who was carrying the knife, jumped over the counter and attempted to grab the bag. The woman threw the bag to the floor and called her employees to pick it up. However, they were too scared to move and the two bandits then grabbed the bag, scaled a fence and escaped through a neighbour’s yard.
The woman related that this is the second time that the outlet, which has been in operation for just over four years, was robbed.
The first time was in 2007 also on an Easter Saturday, when a sum of over $360,000 was stolen.
The police have recovered one .38 spent shell from the scene of the robbery and a number of suspects have been arrested.