Taxi driver charged with possession of AK-47 assault rifles

Last Updated on Thursday, 28 May 2026, 12:01 by Denis Chabrol

A Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara taxi driver was Thursday arraigned on a charge of illegal possession of 10 AK-47 assault rifles, the Guyana Police Force said.

He is 33-year old Stephen Raja of Back Street, Goed Fortuin Village.

Mr Raja was arrested on Friday, May 22, 2026, in connection with the discovery of ten AK-47 firearms.

A New Amsterdam Magistrate read the charge to the accused but he was not required to plead.

Police said the man was not required to plead and was subsequently remanded to prison after bail was refused.

The matter was adjourned to June 15, 2026.

Police said in an earlier statement that the weapons were found on Friday during a police operation on No. 11 Village Public Road, East Berbice.

During the operation, police said they were conducting a stop-and-search exercise along the Berbice River Bridge access road between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. when a black Toyota Corolla Fielder motor car bearing registration number HC 9018 was stopped.

Police said the driver of the  vehicle drove away from the ranks and made good his escape eastward.

Acting on information received, ranks later conducted a search along No. 11 Village Public Road, where ten AK-47 rifles were found wrapped in plastic and cloth, the Guyana Police Force said in a statement.