At around 01:56hrs on Saturday, police ranks from Regional Division 4’C’ nabbed a 34-year-old man from Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, who had in his possession, a Glock 17 (9mm) pistol with no serial number, along with two 9mm matching rounds of ammunition.
The police ranks were at the time on mobile patrol duty in Friendship, East Coast Demerara, when they saw the man, Colwin Barnwell, called ‘Timmo’, a vendor of Vigilance, standing with a black plastic bag in his hand.
Upon seeing the cops, Barnwell started to walk away. He was told to halt, but broke out into a run. The ranks gave chase and he was subsequently caught. The ranks conducted a search on the suspect and the gun and ammo were found stashed in his pants.
The suspect was asked if he was a licensed firearm holder, and he responded in the negative. He was then told of the offence committed and cautioned. He claimed that he bought the firearm when he was in the interior.
Barnwell was arrested and escorted to Vigilance Police Station. The firearm and ammo were seized, sealed and lodged.
The suspect was placed into custody pending charges.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said that it has been making significant strides in taking unlicensed weapons off the streets. On Friday, cops discovered two high-powered assault rifles in a haversack that was left behind by a fleeing suspect.
An AK 47 Assault Rifle, along with an AR 15, one ’round magazine’ containing 44 live 7.62×39 ammunition, and two AR 15 magazines, one containing eight (8) live rounds of 5.56×45 ammunition, were recovered.
