Just over a week after launching a joint service operation to combat terrorist and criminal threats, the Guyana Government is claiming some amount of success.

State Minister Joseph Harmon told media operatives on Wednesday that the Joint Services operation which is code-named “Dragnet”, has resulted in a reduction in criminal activity and increased interdiction of criminals.

Harmon said this was reported to Cabinet on Tuesday by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

“Cabinet was briefed that already there is a higher level of interdiction of criminals and criminal related activities and a reduction in serious crime,” Harmon said.

Asked what independent analysis was done by the government before arriving at this conclusion, the State Minister said “it is clear that the numbers are up, there is more interdiction of criminal elements and more is being done to prevent the level of crime taking place.

The Government initiated the operation on December 01 to combat any terrorist or other criminal threats that Guyana may confront over the next six months.

The operation resulted in the arrest of a Guyana Defence Force Lance Corporal and several others with illegal firearms and ammunition while two bandits were killed and two others escaped an early morning operation on Tuesday.

There have been other interdictions across the country.

The counter terrorism move constitutes an increase presence of ranks from the Guyana Defence Force along the country’s borders and it will also see heightened scrutiny by customs and immigration at ports of entry. There is also more police presence in towns and villages.

Earlier this week, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken said he is satisfied with the results the joint service operation is yielding.

He is optimistic that before the end of 2015 the police will be in a position to report a reduction in crime and will make several arrests of the perpetrators of criminal activity.

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