Residents of Lethem were on Thursday evening angry after a team of Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) officers who carried out an operation at a business entity, in which the men discharged a high powered weapon at a dog while one of the men lounged his weapon menacingly at the businessman.
Reports are that the anti-narcotic agents accompanied by officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) descended on the business place operated by young businessman Lyndon Franklin. The businessman noted in a video posted to his Facebook page that the ranks discharged a weapon at his dog and when the police visited the scene, the latter were denied entry into the premises.The incident occurred in the presence of employees of the business and several children.
In a video seen by the Village Voice News , one of the ranks can be seen walking towards someone who held a phone camera in his hand as it recorded. The rank then lunged forward and attempted to hit the person holding the camera with his gun and he can he heard hurling explicit remarks to the person holding the camera.
In another video, a dog can be seen running into the compound in the presence of the armed men and one of the men can be heard demanding that the dog be taken away. He then fires at the animal.
The videos were posted on Facebook and immediately the conduct of the CANU ranks came under question. Persons noted that the rank who attempted to hit the person recording the incident could have done serious harm if the gun fired off accidentally. In addition, persons noted the gunshot fired at the dog and its implications for animal rights measures which could have been taken.
The lawmen entered the business premises and carried out a search of the property. It is unclear if the businessman was arrested for any wrongdoing.
