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Venezuelan national remanded over 23 AK-47s
…as second major weapons bust raises alarm
(Kaieteur News) – A 27-year-old Venezuelan national was on Monday remanded to prison after being charged in connection with the discovery of 23 AK-47 rifles and a matching quantity of ammunition at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara.
Jonathan David Gans, a construction worker of Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition without licence.
Jonathan David Gans
He pleaded not guilty. Gans was arrested on Thursday June 11, at Schoonard, West Bank Demerara. He was arraigned before Magistrate Rondell Weever at the Wales Magistrate’s Court, where the charges of Possession of Firearm Without Licence and Possession of Ammunition Without Licence contrary to Section 16(2)(a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 16:05 were read to him. The matter was adjourned to 14th July, 2026.
Thursday’s bust, was made by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) when they intercepted a vehicle along the West Bank of Demerara and found the 23 AK-47 rifles along with a matching quantity of ammunition inside.
Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum told Kaieteur News on Friday evening that “the weapons were manufactured in the USA (United States of America).” He added that “the serial number for one of them remained intact,” but noted that “however, the other 22 rifles, the serial numbers were obliterated.” The weapons are currently being examined by firearm experts at the CID Headquarters’ Crime Lab.
The 23 AK-47 rifles and matching ammunition that were seized.
Thursday’s discovery also marked the second cache of AK-47 rifles uncovered within a span of just 21 days, raising fresh concerns over the scale of illegal weapons trafficking into the country.
The first cache — ten AK-47 rifles — was found on May 22 along the No. 11 Village Public Road in Berbice. According to police, ranks conducting a stop-and-search exercise along the Berbice River Bridge Access Road between 01:00hrs and 04:30hrs intercepted a black Toyota Fielder Wagon bearing registration number HC 9018. Acting on information gathered, ranks then searched the No. 11 Village Public Road area, where they found ten AK-47 rifles wrapped in plastic and cloth.
Examination of the firearms revealed markings consistent with 7.62x39mm rifles, and sections appeared to have been tampered with, apparently in an effort to obscure the serial numbers.
Investigations led police to identify the driver of motorcar #HC 9018 as 33-year-old taxi driver Stephen Rajah of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara. He was later intercepted at Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, in the same vehicle, arrested, charged and remanded to prison. He was released on bail yesterday.
During that investigation, police also discovered an abandoned Toyota Runx #PSS 4272 at Second Street, Savannah Park, New Amsterdam, Berbice, suspected to have been used in transporting the firearms.
Police subsequently issued wanted bulletins for two more men, Gregory Persaud and Antonio Alonzo Lawrie, in connection with the same case. Both men later surrendered to police.
A day after their surrender, the GPF issued a statement confirming that a search was conducted on Friday, 5th June, 2026, at approximately 17:00hrs in Farm, East Bank Demerara. According to the statement, “during a search at the residence of a 21-year-old wash bay attendant of Farm, New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, one extended magazine, suspected to be for a 9mm firearm, was found in a clothes basket in his bedroom.”
The 21-year-old was arrested and questioned in connection with the find. Following this development, police indicated they received legal advice to charge Persaud and Lawrie with Conspiracy to Commit a Felony. Persaud was additionally charged with illegal possession of firearms. Both men have since been remanded to prison.
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