[www.inewsguyana.com] – A group of Guyanese miners working in the Five Star backdam in the North West District were robbed of a quantity of gold, allegedly by three Venezuelan men at gunpoint around midday on Wednesday, March 12.
According to information received, the Guyanese miners had visited a shop in the area to purchase groceries for their camp when they came under attack.
iNews (www.inewsguyana.com) understands that the gunmen crossed the border and entered the country illegally.
One of the miners told iNews (www.inewsguyana.com) that the gunmen had high powered weapons and threatened to shoot them if they did not hand over their gold.
The miner said he became afraid and surrendered his gold, which he had laboured for some two months. According to the man, the gunmen ripped through their bags in search of more gold and took away the bag that had the two months production.
According to the miners, they were held in custody by the gunmen for almost two hours before being released. Their cell phones were also taken away.
Meanwhile the Guyanese miners are calling on the Guyana Defence Force to protect the country borders at Five Stars and to keep the illegal Venezuelans out of the country.
