Police investigators have arrested a 48-year-old Brazilian miner, who is linked to the illegal operation of a foreign aircraft in Guyana and its landing at an illegal airstrip.
The arrested man has been identified as Robistaine Peixoto Saraiva. The Police also said the pilot of the aircraft escaped from the scene.
According to the Police statement, officers received information on Sunday morning about an aircraft attempting to land at an illegal airstrip in Bashaizon Village, South Rupununi.
The Police said when its ranks got to the scene, they observed a large plot of land in the savannah featuring an illegal airstrip running north to south, about three (3) miles from the village’s main access road. They also noticed a black, gold, and white aircraft with registration number PU-MBN parked on the airstrip, facing north.
A fully tinted four-door pickup truck was also observed parked adjacent to the aircraft.
The Police said as the ranks approached, they observed two fair-skinned males exiting the aircraft and boarding the pickup. However, as the ranks got closer, the pickup turned and drove off in a southern direction. One of the men fell from the vehicle in the process. The pickup also collided with a section of the plane, causing damage to the right wing and front propeller.
The Police ranks said they apprehended the man who had fallen from the vehicle, and despite discharging two .38 rounds in an attempt to stop the fleeing pickup, the vehicle managed to cross the Takutu River into neighbouring Brazil, making good its escape.
The apprehended male was informed of the offences.
A search of his person revealed no illegal items, but during questioning, he reportedly revealed that he had chartered the aircraft from Santa Len De Para Company in Brazil.
He confirmed that on October 4, 2024, they flew from Brazil, to Venezuela, where they dropped off ten (10) cylinders of mercury and after spending a few days in Venezuela, they landed in Guyana.
The Police said the suspect claimed that the visit to Guyana was to purchase ten (10) cylinders of mercury from a Brazilian man in Guyana.
The Police said during their search of the area surrounding the illegal airstrip, they also found a motorcycle hidden in the bushes bearing local registration plates.
A number of telecommunication devices were also found on the plane. Investigations are ongoing.
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