Guyana’s ongoing probe into a major seizure of illegal military-grade weapons has yielded a new breakthrough, with law enforcement recovering an extended 9mm ammunition magazine following the surrender of two suspects earlier this week. The investigation first launched in late May, when a routine stop-and-search operation led to the discovery of 10 fully concealable AK-47 assault rifles along a public roadway in Berbice.
According to an official statement released by the Guyana Police Force on Saturday, the latest recovery was made during a search of a 21-year-old wash bay attendant’s home in the Farm New Housing Scheme, located on the East Bank of Demerara. The 9mm extended magazine, which authorities suspect was intended for use with a 9mm handgun, was found hidden inside a clothes basket in the man’s bedroom. Police did not disclose whether any additional firearms or ammunition were uncovered during the search.
The 21-year-old suspect, along with 33-year-old Antonio Alonzo “Lanzo” Lawrie, a local businessman who owns the wash bay where the younger man works, turned themselves in to authorities on Thursday. Both men, who also have ties to East Coast Demerara locations, surrendered voluntarily while accompanied by their legal representation. The case continues to move forward alongside earlier court proceedings tied to the weapons seizure.
The original investigation traces back to May 22, when police conducted an overnight stop-and-search operation between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on the access road leading to the Berbice River Bridge. During the operation, officers attempted to pull over a black Toyota Corolla Fielder with the registration number HC 9018. Rather than complying with the order to stop, the driver fled the scene, speeding away eastward from the checkpoint.
Acting on intelligence gathered after the driver’s escape, law enforcement teams launched a targeted search along the No. 11 Village Public Road, where they uncovered the cache of 10 AK-47 rifles. The weapons had been carefully wrapped in layers of plastic and cloth to avoid detection, police confirmed.
Six days after the weapons seizure, on May 28, 33-year-old Stephen Raja of Goed Fortuin Village’s Back Street became the first suspect to face formal charges in connection with the case. Raja was arraigned on charges of illegal possession of firearms, and bail was ultimately denied by the court. He has been remanded into custody, with the next hearing in his case scheduled for June 15. Police have not yet confirmed whether the three suspects currently in custody or facing charges are connected to the same illegal weapons trafficking network, and investigations remain ongoing as of Saturday afternoon.