Several members of the Guyana Police Force including an Assistant Superinten-dent of Police (ASP) and a Corporal, who allegedly smuggled an AK-47 rifle out of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Com-pound, Eve Leary Tuesday morning, are currently under close arrest.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed the arrests with Stabroek News. He said four persons were arrested and several others were questioned.
This newspaper was reliably informed that acting on information received, the police held an operation early yesterday morning during which they followed a car that had just left the TSU compound. The car was intercepted at Carmichael Street and during a search, the high-powered rifle was discovered.
The driver was promptly searched and taken into custody. During questioning, he reportedly implicated the Corporal and the ASP. Records on the driver’s phone revealed that during the time the car entered and left TSU compound, several calls were made to the corporal. It is alleged that the ASP colluded with the corporal to seek sales for the weapon.
Up to yesterday afternoon, checks were being made to determine if the AK-47 was a service weapon.
Back in 2009, the ASP was among three policemen who were charged with stealing millions of dollars they had retrieved from the suspects held for a robbery/murder.
While a Cadet Officer, the ASP was among the policemen who held a roadblock at Schoonord, and took a black bag containing $5.8 million from Shawn Ageda. However, when the money was later lodged at the police station, it only amounted to $1.5 million.
Following this incident, the now ASP was interdicted from the force but was later reinstated after no evidence was given against him and his accomplices during the trial.
Meanwhile, according to information received by Stabroek News, shortly after the 2009 incident, an individual, who was arrested with an illegal firearm had told the police that it was given to him by the ASP.
The officer was questioned and placed under close arrest but was allowed to return to his duties owing to insufficient evidence against him.