Missing Guyanese boat captain was abducted while transporting GDF fuel

Oct 27, 2025 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Relatives of missing Guyanese Boat Captain, Frederick Pollard have revealed that he was transporting   fuel for the Guyanese Defence Force (GDF) when gunmen abducted him in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven.

Two months have passed since he and a Venezuelan man were seen detained on Venezuela’s shore by gunmen suspected to be part of the notorious “Sindicato gang” and his loved ones want to know why the GDF has not issued a statement on the matter since then.  Fearful of the gang they asked that their identities not be revealed but said that they decided to raise the matter again because the GDF seems reluctant to give them any assurance.

Speaking with Kaieteur News recently, Pollard’s relatives said that he worked as a boat captain for Steve Macedo. Macedo is reportedly contracted by the ‘Government’ to transport fuel for GDF in the Cuyuni River. Pollard was en route to Devil Hole when he was abducted on August 24, 2025.

Kaieteur News understands that gang suspected of abducting him would normally order boats traversing the river to stop and charge them a tax in gold if they are transporting fuel. However, Pollard, would normally be escorted by GDF or joint services ranks because he transports their property. So, he never stopped at the checkpoint.

On day he was abducted, Pollard had left Eteringbang reportedly without patrolling joint services ranks escorting him pass the gang’s checkpoint.  It is unclear why he travelled without an escort but reports reaching Kaieteur News are that Pollard was scheduled to leave on the August 23 but delayed his trip for a meeting with visiting members of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic who were at the time on the campaign trail for the recently held September 1, Regional and General Elections.

The following day, Pollard left for Eteringbang with a passenger onboard, Antonio José Bolivar better known as “Pancho”, – a Venezuelan National who was abducted along him- but both men never reached their destination.

His common-law-life who resides in San-Martin, a Venezuelan village located opposite Eteringbang along the Cuyuni River, reportedly grew a little worried when he did not call to say he had arrived but brushed it aside thinking that he might have been delayed.

On evening of August 25 devastating news reached her that Pollard was held captive by members of the “Sindicato Gang”. She received the news from passengers of another boat who were travelling to Eteringbang from Devil Hole. According them they saw Pollard in custody of the gunmen by chance.

They were forced to stop at the gunmen’s checkpoint and while they were there a GDF patrol was passing by at the same time. The passengers recounted that the gunmen then ordered them to exit their boat and take cover in the bushes fearful of an exchange of gunfire with the soldiers. Fearful about a possible shootout, the passengers did as they were told. It was while seeking cover that they saw Pollard and the Venezuelan passenger sitting in a boat heading further into Venezuelan territory.  He then told them that he was being held captive the by gang and begged them to take a message to his wife about what has happened to him.

A short while after the gunmen informed the passengers that it was safe for them to come out from the bushes. They re-entered their vessel and the gunmen instructed them to “get-out-of here” before the patrol ranks returned.

The passengers delivered the message to his wife and ranks with the Guyana Police Force at Eteringbang summoned them for a statement and information on the matter.  That was the last time Pollard and the passengers were seen.

Four days later around 23:00hrs on August 29, relatives received a call from Pollard. They described his voice as sounding “trembly”.

He told them that he was alive but held captive by the gang. He also informed them that the gang members were taking him out of the area on a motorbike to see their boss in Tumeremo, an area located some three hours away from the Venezuelan border with Eteringbang Guyana. He ended call with the words, “I ga go now a ga go now”.

That was the last time family members heard from him. Pollard’s trail went cold. Family members want the GDF to be more involved trying to get information from their counterparts about the gang’s whereabouts in making an effort to locate him. His wife has reached out to Venezuelan authorities and has been searching for him in the neighbouring country but has reached only dead ends.

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• abducted, Antonio Jose Bolivar, boat captain, Cuyuni River, Frederick Pollard, fuel, transporting

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