Part of recovered loot disappears, cops held

Aug 22, 2009 News

Two police ranks, including a Cadet Officer, have spoilt the good work of their colleagues with regard to last Thursday’s $17M Essequibo River robbery.

The two ranks are presently under close arrest as investigators probe the disappearance of $4M dollars, which represents a part of the total cash recovered from the perpetrators.

According to reports reaching this newspaper, following the arrests of the three ranks attached to the GDF Coast Guard at Parika, the police established roadblocks along the West Coast and West Bank of Demerara after they learnt that persons in a car had picked up a part of the loot.

It was at one of these roadblocks, manned by a Cadet Officer and a few junior ranks, that a red car with two persons inside was stopped.

One of the occupants turned out to be the brother of one of the three arrested GDF Coast Guard ranks.

A search of the car unearthed cash in excess of $5M. The men were detained and the cash confiscated.

However, only $1.5M was handed over to the ranks investigating the matter.

Police Commissioner Henry Greene yesterday confirmed that two police ranks are in custody for allegedly making off with part of the $17M that three Coast Guards took from Dweive Kant Ramdass after abducting him.

Greene said that “there is some suspicion” that the ranks made off with about $4M which was part of the recovered money.

Commenting to reporters about the abduction, Commissioner Greene said that he first received the report on Thursday night.

Greene stressed that, “diligent inquiries led us to three suspects who are in custody.

They have gone to locate the area where this young man was last seen. And we are hoping for the best.”

Commenting about the possible link between the suspects and the recent boat crash, he said that while they do not have enough evidence, information now coming to their attention will be investigated.