Businessman held over 23 AK-47s

…as police hunts accomplice in widening probe

(Kaieteur News) – Hours after the Guyana Police Force (GPF) issued wanted bulletins for businessman Randy Jagdeo and Orlando Gabriel in connection with 23 AK-47 rifles discovered during a bust at Schoonard, West Bank Demerara (WBD) last Thursday, Jagdeo turned himself in to police on Sunday.

Crime Chief and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Wendell Blanhum, told Kaieteur News that Jagdeo arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters accompanied by his lawyer and remains in police custody.

Businessman, Randy Jagdeo surrenders in Ak-47 probe.

Wanted: Orlando Gabriel

Jagdeo, 39, is not new to law enforcement scrutiny. In May 2025, he was charged with inciting persons to commit treason after allegedly making a Facebook comment claiming Essequibo belongs to Venezuela, and over a sign displayed at his “Thousand Dollar Store” on the East Bank of Demerara that featured the “One Guyana” logo alongside a map of Guyana excluding the Essequibo region. He was released on $350,000 bail in that matter.

The businessman also faced a murder charge in 2013 but was freed the following year after prosecutors failed to establish sufficient evidence. Reports indicate that two key witnesses, Alisa Dookie and Wendell Marks, repeatedly failed to appear in court despite being summoned on several occasions.

Meanwhile, Gabriel remains at large. Police are appealing to anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact 911, 227-1611, 268-2328/268-2329, 226-3411, 225-8196, 227-1159, or to visit the nearest police station.

AK-47 rifles found last Thursday at Schoonard, WBD.

A Venezuelan national was also arrested following Thursday’s bust, after ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted a vehicle along the West Bank of Demerara and found the 23 AK-47 rifles along with a matching quantity of ammunition inside.

Blanhum told Kaieteur News on Friday evening that “the weapons were manufactured in the USA (United States of America).” He added that “the serial number for one of them remained intact,” but noted that “however, the other 22 rifles, the serial numbers were obliterated.” The weapons are currently being examined by firearm experts at the CID Headquarters’ Crime Lab.

Thursday’s discovery marks the second cache of AK-47 rifles uncovered within a span of just 21 days, raising fresh concerns over the scale of illegal weapons trafficking into the country.

The first cache — ten AK-47 rifles — was found on May 22 along the No. 11 Village Public Road in Berbice. According to police, ranks conducting a stop-and-search exercise along the Berbice River Bridge Access Road between 01:00hrs and 04:30hrs intercepted a black Toyota Fielder Wagon bearing registration number HC 9018. Acting on information gathered, ranks then searched the No. 11 Village Public Road area, where they found ten AK-47 rifles wrapped in plastic and cloth.

Examination of the firearms revealed markings consistent with 7.62x39mm rifles, and sections appeared to have been tampered with, apparently in an effort to obscure the serial numbers.

Investigations led police to identify the driver of motorcar #HC 9018 as 33-year-old taxi driver Stephen Rajah of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara. He was later intercepted at Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, in the same vehicle, arrested, charged, and remanded to prison.

During that investigation, police also discovered an abandoned Toyota Runx #PSS 4272 at Second Street, Savannah Park, New Amsterdam, Berbice, suspected to have been used in transporting the firearms.

Police subsequently issued wanted bulletins for two more men, Gregory Persaud and Antonio Alonzo Lawrie, in connection with the same case. Both men later surrendered to police.

A day after their surrender, the GPF issued a statement confirming that a search was conducted on Friday, June 5, 2026, at approximately 17:00hrs in Farm, East Bank Demerara. According to the statement, “during a search at the residence of a 21-year-old wash bay attendant of Farm, New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, one extended magazine, suspected to be for a 9mm firearm, was found in a clothes basket in his bedroom.”

The 21-year-old was arrested and questioned in connection with the find. Following this development, police indicated they received legal advice to charge Persaud and Lawrie with Conspiracy to Commit a Felony. Persaud was additionally charged with illegal possession of firearms. Both men have since been remanded to prison.