Springlands men charged with ammunition possession

Two 23-year-old men from Springlands, Berbice, were jointly charged on Monday with possession of ammunition without a licence following a Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) operation in the Corriverton area.

The accused, identified as Mark Matthews, a labourer of Lot 4 Springlands, Berbice, and Umeer Park, a businessman of Lot 19 Springlands, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Tuana Hardy at the Whim Magistrates’ Court, where the charge was formally read. Both men pleaded not guilty.

They were charged under Section 16(2)(a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 16:05, which relates to possession of ammunition without a valid licence. Bail was granted in the sum of $50,000 each, and the matter was adjourned to May 14, 2026, for further proceedings.

The charges stem from an operation conducted by officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on April 16, 2026, at approximately 16:00 hrs in the Dukestown area of Corriverton, Guyana, near the seawall.

During the operation, officers intercepted two men who were each carrying a black box. A search of the boxes reportedly led to the discovery of two black ZORAKI 9mm pistols bearing serial numbers A31ZR99YS03-2401246 and A31ZR99YS03-2401248, along with one .23 round of ammunition.

The suspects were subsequently escorted to the Springlands Police Station, where they were informed of the allegations and taken into custody pending court proceedings.