Police recover boat, outboard engines stolen at Abary River

Police have recovered a boat and four outboard engines that were stolen at the Abary Sluice/River mouth in Region Five around midnight.

According to reports, three unidentified men allegedly carried out the theft, targeting multiple fishermen from Mahaicony and West Coast Berbice.

The stolen items included:

• A 40-foot cruiser boat with a seine and a 40 hp Yamaha outboard engine – property of Kumar Bisnauth, 54, of Airy Hall, Mahaicony.

• A 40 hp Yamaha outboard engine – property of Harry Narine Persaud, 50, of Catherine, Mahaicony.

• A 40 hp Yamaha outboard engine – property of Anthony Gubdios, 39, of Catherine, Mahaicony.

• A 40 hp Yamaha outboard engine – property of Pooran Ramdat, 49, of Good Faith, Mahaicony.

• A 40 hp Yamaha outboard engine – property of Jagdesh Ramdat, 50, of Good Faith, Mahaicony.

• A 60 hp Yamaha outboard engine – property of Dorothy Boodoo, 42, of Dundee, Mahaicony.

• A 40 hp Yamaha outboard engine – property of Tahkurdyal Narine, 59, of Novar, Mahaicony.

• A 40 hp Yamaha outboard engine – property of Gopaul Narine, 28, of Novar, Mahaicony.

• A 15 hp Yamaha outboard engine – property of Ryan Soloman, 50, of Paradise, West Coast Berbice.

Michael Semple, also called “Apan”, a 51-year-old fisherman, was reportedly alone in the area when the suspects approached him and asked if anyone else was around.

They allegedly tied up Semple and threatened to shoot him before using an angle grinder to cut the bolts securing the engines.

The stolen engines were then loaded into Bisnauth’s boat, which contained several containers of petrol.

At one point, the suspects untied Semple and forced him to assist in carrying the engines into the boat. They later restrained him again using a rope and zip strap before making their escape towards Suriname.

Semple later managed to free himself and raised the alarm.

The matter was reported to the police, who launched an investigation. Acting on intelligence, officers conducted a search at Number 75 Beach, Corriverton, Berbice at approximately 10:00 hrs.

During the operation, they discovered the stolen boat, marked Avinash, and further checks led to the recovery of four Yamaha 40 hp outboard engines, which had been buried nearby.

Semple was subsequently arrested and remains in custody as investigations continue.

Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any suspects have been identified or apprehended.

Two of the four engines recovered (GPF photo)