“I just gave it up” – Canje businessman after $10.2M robbery

Three suspects have been arrested, and a portion of the stolen money and at least one firearm recovered, following an armed robbery at a beverage depot at Number 2 Village, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The investigation has also taken a significant turn, with information reportedly provided by the suspects suggesting that the robbery may have been an inside job.

The incident occurred at approximately 19:35h on Saturday, at the business premises of 57-year-old Jagnaven Prasad, called “Balram,” along the Number 2 Village Public Road.

Prasad, who operates the beverage depot on the lower flat of his premises, was in the cashier area when three masked men entered the establishment. According to police, one was armed with a handgun, while the other two carried a baseball bat and a cutlass.

Recounting the ordeal, the businessman said he had been preparing to leave with his wife and son when the bandits struck.

His son was sitting outside the establishment, while his wife had just come downstairs from the upper flat in preparation for their outing. A customer had also been at the business purchasing beer.

Prasad recalled that a vehicle reversed towards the premises, although he did not initially notice it. Moments later, his son shouted, prompting him to rush towards the office, but the masked men had already entered.

The intruders immediately demanded money and began searching the drawers, insisting that the businessman hand over his cash.

“And they say they come for everything. And I say I have nothing. They say you have it. They check all the drawers,” Prasad recalled.

Despite their demands, Prasad repeatedly insisted that he had no money, even as the intruders continued searching the office.

However, the confrontation escalated when one of the men pointed a firearm at him and threatened to kill him.

Prasad said he initially resisted their demands but eventually realised that continuing to do so could cost him his life.

“They put the gun right up to me,” Prasad recalled.

He said the gunman threatened to kill him, prompting him to abandon his resistance and surrender the keys to a locked drawer.

According to the businessman, the bandits first took approximately $200,000 from one drawer before gaining access to another containing approximately $10 million in Guyana and United States (US) currency.

In total, the men escaped with approximately $10.2 million, based on Prasad’s estimates.

The businessman said the ordeal lasted between 15 and 20 minutes, during which the bandits concentrated on obtaining cash. They did not take cellular phones or merchandise from the establishment.

After collecting the money, the men fled in a waiting vehicle, which police identified as a dark-grey motor car.

Prasad said the vehicle travelled in the direction of New Amsterdam without its lights switched on.

Although the bandits were armed and had threatened to kill the businessman, police confirmed that no shots were fired and no injuries were reported.

Prasad said his wife and son were also present during the confrontation, adding to his fear that someone could have been killed.

While he personally recalled being threatened with a firearm, he said his wife subsequently told him that she had observed two guns, a stick and a cutlass during the robbery.

The businessman has since said that the experience had left him deeply shaken, particularly because of the threat against his life.

He recalled remaining inside the establishment for a lengthy period after the bandits escaped, struggling to recover from what had happened.

“Oh, my God. I didn’t come out from there for half an hour. My whole body, I didn’t know what to do. I just gave it up. But thank God that I gave them the money,” he said.

Prasad disclosed that Saturday’s incident was not his first encounter with armed criminals.

He recalled that approximately five to six years ago, while operating another business at Double Heart, armed men had attempted to rob him on two separate occasions.

Meanwhile, police have obtained CCTV footage from the establishment as part of their investigation.

Prasad confirmed that surveillance cameras captured the incident but said he had not watched the recording because he did not want to relive the ordeal.

Information provided by the three suspects now in custody has suggested that the robbery may have been planned with inside assistance.

Investigations are continuing.