–as Operation Dragnet boosts security countrywide

By Rabindra Rooplall
OPERATION Dragnet, which took effect at the beginning of the month, is already resulting in a reduction in serious crimes. A dragnet is any system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects, and includes road barricades and traffic stops; widespread DNA testing; and general, increased police alertness.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, recently disclosed that more reports of suspected criminal activities are being made, and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has taken condign action, which has assisted tremendously. In some situations, reports were able to stop potential criminal situations from becoming reality.
Apart from the police, soldiers have been drawn into Operation Dragnet. The State Minister noted that the assets of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were put on heightened alert at interior bases and border locations, in addition to waterways.
Although the Ministry of Public Security will not be releasing statistics in the early stages of Operation Dragnet, which is to run until June next year, Minister Harmon noted, Cabinet was briefed on the details of the operation by subject Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.
He explained that Operation Dragnet was launched to address the crime situation, especially at Christmas time, so citizens can begin again to feel safe in their homes.
President David Granger had also noted that Operation Dragnet is an ambitious approach to total national defence, and that the GDF and the GPF have a responsibility to prevent internal civil violence and internal terrorism. Since its inception, at the beginning of the month, Operation Dragnet has caught a GDF Lance Corporal and three other persons in a vehicle with two unlicensed firearms and several rounds of ammunition. The police received information about the men who were in the vehicle at the time, and suspicions were aroused by what appeared to be mud covering a few digits of the car’s registration plate.
The police responded promptly and intercepted the car along Avenue of the Republic, and a search of the vehicle in full view of members of the public saw the discovery of an illegal sawn-off pump action shotgun, an unlicensed .38 revolver and matching rounds of ammunition.
GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, who is also overseeing Operation Dragnet, said that netting a GDF rank was very embarrassing to all those who serve in the armed forces, especially the GDF. Meanwhile, the dragnet also had serious confrontations in the form of a recent shoot-out in South Ruimveldt, which resulted in the death of two bandits. They were identified as 21-year-old Edgar Blackman and 22-year-old Sherwaine James, called “Tu Pack”, both of Tucville, Georgetown. Two other men escaped.
At the end of September this year, a total of 89 illegal firearms had been recovered by the police. These comprise 1 sub-machine gun, 47 pistols, 24 revolvers, 10 shotguns, 6 rifles and 1 pen gun. This compares to a total of 60 illegal firearms recovered as at this time last year.
The Police Force is continuing its efforts aimed at crime prevention through its police/community partnership programme, along with social crime prevention interventions in the policing divisions. The special emphasis is on empowering youths.