Police come under fire while pursuing Brazilian gunmen after Lethem robbery; Suspects nabbed in Brazil

Police come under fire while pursuing Brazilian gunmen after Lethem robbery; Suspects nabbed in Brazil

Three robbery suspects have been arrested in neighbouring Brazil after carrying out a daring Sunday afternoon armed robbery at a Chinese owned shopping complex in the Lethem.

Eyewitnesses said the Shopping25 complex was attacked by three Portuguese speaking armed men at around 1:45pm on Sunday.

The three men, who were all masked, assaulted the owners of the business place before forcing them along with their workers at gunpoint into a backroom.

The business place was robbed of a quantity of cash and phones, totaling $5million. The men exited the store and were seen running west towards the Lethem Comercial Zone.

The Police Commander in the area and a team responded to the robbery reports and spotted the three suspects heading south near the Guyana/Brazil border.

On seeing the Police vehicle, the three suspects discharged several rounds at the Police vehicle. The Police returned fire but the suspects managed to elude them. The Police vehicle was hit four times but no one was injured.

A Joint-Services patrol team was subsequently formed in an effort to locate the alleged suspects. They were all arrested in neighbouring Brazil and remain in custody.

Last weekend in the South Rupununi area, check point for mine workers and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission was attacked and robbed by several members of a Brazilian gang, who also abducted nine persons and used them as hostages during their escape. Those abducted were eventually released. There are calls for increased security in the bordering areas.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login