Miner ambushed at Sand Hill Backdam, gold, gun stolen

A 33-year-old miner was relieved of his licensed .32 pistol with 10 live rounds and an undisclosed amount of gold on Thursday at Sand Hill Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region 7, by two masked men armed with handguns.

Police say they are investigating an armed robbery committed on Mohamed Azam Shadiek, a 33-year-old miner of Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, by two unidentifiable men wearing masks. The armed robbery occurred at about 6.45 pm at Sand Hill Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region #7.

A police press release said investigations so far indicate that the victim is a licensed firearm holder. On Thursday between 5 and 6 pm, the victim and his workers washed down his six-inch land dredge and, on completion, he secured the production in a small green container and placed it in his haversack. The victim, who was at the time armed with his .32 pistol, boarded his ATV along with two of his workers, namely Wayne Thomas and Isaque Brown, and then left for his camp.

According to the police report, about three minutes into their journey, the victim, who was riding the ATV bike at the time, noticed a tree lying across the road, blocking his path. As a result, he stopped and that is when the two suspects, both armed with handguns, came out from the bushes, held them at gunpoint and relieved the victim of his licensed .32 pistol along with ten .32 live rounds of ammunition and an undisclosed amount of gold.

The suspects thereafter fled on foot in some nearby bushes. Searches are being conducted for the suspects as investigations continue.