Latest update April 16th, 2026 4:35 PM
Daylight gunpoint robbery in Lethem
– bandits escape with 15 cellphones
…residents say attack exposes cross-border crime threat
(Kaieteur News) – A brazen midday robbery in Lethem has once again exposed the growing threat of cross-border crime, with foreign nationals allegedly storming an electronic store and escaping with a cache of cellular phones at gunpoint.
The victim, 27-year-old Ahmad Afzal, Branch Manager of SamTronix, was conducting business as usual when two men entered the store: one brandishing a handgun before swiftly seizing over a dozen phones and fleeing. What followed was a familiar pattern: a waiting getaway car, a quick escape route, and a dash toward the Brazilian border. Police acted quickly, intercepting the suspected driver, Brazilian national Christiano Barros Buckley, in whose possession a stolen iPhone was found. But the alleged gunmen remain at large. This incident underscores a troubling reality, Lethem’s porous borders are being exploited by criminal networks, leaving businesses exposed and law enforcement playing catch-up.
Police said that the robbery was allegedly committed by three identifiable males of Venezuelan and Brazilian nationality, one of whom is named Christiano Barros Buckley, a 28-year-old Brazilian national and taxi driver of Bonfim, Brazil. The suspects reportedly stole in excess of fifteen cellular phones, value unknown, the property of SamTronix. The incident occurred between 12:25 hrs. and 12:30 hrs. The scene was visited by a party of policemen from Lethem Police Station, Central Rupununi.
Investigations revealed that the victim was conducting business as normal, when two when two bandits entered the store. One of the suspects pointed a handgun in the victim’s direction and proceeded to rob him of the cellular phones that were on display, after which they made good their escape on foot. The area was canvassed for CCTV cameras, and several video footages were retrieved. Several persons were questioned. Police were told that about 12:20 hrs., a gold-coloured Brazilian motor car bearing registration number JWY 1202 parked in front of a resident’s yard. The driver, a male, remained in the vehicle while two other males exited, jumped a neighbouring fence, and proceeded onward. Witnesses stated that a few minutes later, the two two males returned, running from the western side, one carrying a bulky black haversack. They re-entered the vehicle, which then made good its escape in an easterly direction. Acting on information received at approximately 14:00 hrs., the said gold-coloured Volkswagen motor car, registration number JWY 1202, was intercepted. The vehicle at the time was being driven by Christiano Barros Buckley and had no other occupants. A search was conducted on his person, during which an iPhone 15 Pro was found in his right-side pants pocket.
The phone was later identified as property belonging to the SamTronix and had been on display at the store. The motor car was also searched; however, nothing else of evidential value was found. Christiano Barros Buckley was further questioned and stated that he had been hired by a Venezuelan and a Brazilian national, both known to him in Bonfim, Brazil. He stated that one of them was armed with a firearm (revolver). He transported them to Lethem, where he was told by both suspects to park on a back street and wait. He further stated that the two men returned shortly after at a fast pace, carrying a bulky black bag. They told him to drive, which he did, and he dropped off the suspects, who then made good their escape on foot towards the Brazil border. He is presently in custody assisting with this investigation.
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