Alpha Hotel bust… Cops recover 5 kilos of coke, seize car
Jul 09, 2016 News 0 Comments
– handgun used by victim licensed to Bartica business
Four persons, among them three hotel employees, remained in custody yesterday following Thursday’s drug bust at the Alpha Hotel at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, in which one man was slain.
Nigel Joseph, 52, of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot dead during a confrontation with ranks from the Police Narcotics Branch.
Police said that they recovered 5.5 kilograms of cocaine and a Smith and Wesson 9mm firearm.
Kaieteur News understands that the weapon was licensed to a business establishment at First Avenue, Bartica. Sources said that the alleged shooter also had a permit to carry a firearm.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the shooting.
A police release issued yesterday stated that about 16.40hrs on Thursday, the police, acting on information that a large scale drug transaction was being conducted at a hotel at Ogle, ECD, went to the hotel to investigate and as they were approaching the suspects with a view to arresting them, they came under fire.
“The police then returned fire during which suspect, Nigel Joseph, 52, of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was fatally shot.
According to reports, when ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch arrived, they saw Nigel Joseph, running in a southerly direction in the hotel parking lot.
It is alleged that Joseph ignored orders to halt, and instead discharged three rounds at the ranks.
The police returned fire, shooting Joseph, who later succumbed. In addition to the cocaine and the pistol, 14 rounds of ammunition and a car were impounded.
Those detained include a 46-year-old driver from Alexander Village; a 16-year-old boy who is employed as a hotel cleaner, a 56-year-old cook and a 30-year-old South Ruimveldt resident.
One suspect reportedly fled the scene