GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Police have impounded a helicopter and detained two Brazilians after discovering two illegal mining camps at New River Triangle, South Rupununi, Region Nine.
In a statement issued late on Tuesday night, the police said that a grey Robinson 44 helicopter, with registration number PTY-MBI, was flown to Aishalton airstrip and that Alexander Felix, 54, a licensed pilot of Rua Pariba 45 Ap 103, São Paulo, Brazil is assisting their investigations. The other person has been identified as 29-year-old Luan Ricardo Braoa Silva of Belem De Para Brazil.
The police said several other men believed to be Brazilians, ran away when the security forces arrived at the illegal mining camps spotted during aerial surveillance on Sunday at an area in South Rupununi, Region Nine.
Police said after searching the two camps. They found one brown and gold 12-gauge shotgun, ten 16-gauge cartridges, forty 12-gauge cartridges, and three empty cartridge shells. Nine cellular phones and several documents were also found.
The police said the helicopter landed at the site after the gold mining camps were discovered, but nothing illegal had been found.
“Searches were carried out on his person and the helicopter, but nothing illegal was found, except for food supplies and gas.”
Aviation Minister Juan Edghill said the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) inspector, who flew to the location on Tuesday, was expected to ascertain where the helicopter is from and to whom it is registered.
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