Two Enforcement Officers of the Guyana Revenue Authority are nursing gunshot wounds and are in serious condition after coming under fire during an anti-smuggling operation in the Mahaica area on Thursday night.

In a statement, the GRA said that based on information, a team of Enforcement Officers along with a team of Police officers were dispatched to the Mahaica area to intercept a vessel that was suspected of transporting smuggled goods in the Mahaica River area by land and water.

The GRA said its vessel came under high-powered and spotlighted gunfire emanating both from the suspect’s property and the suspected vessel, making it clear that the smugglers may have been tipped off.

The Officers were forced to take evasive action by lying flat in their vessel and returned fire in the general direction of the perpetrators.

However, the perpetuator’s bullets pierced the GRA’s vessel and injured two of the officers in the abdomen and face.

The injured officers have to undergo surgery. There were no arrests but the GRA said the leader of the smuggling crew is known to both the Police and the GRA for involvement in smuggling.

A full investigation is underway.

Related posts:

Two confirmed dead in Mahaica smash-up Four to face charges over shooting of GRA Enforcement Officers during smuggling crackdown GRA Enforcement Officers want better working conditions and equipment GRA Enforcement officers come under heavy Gunfire from smuggler