By Mark DaCosta-A 33-year-old taxi driver, Stephen Raja, found himself facing serious charges after allegedly attempting to dispose of a cache of ten AK-47 rifles. On Thursday May 28, 2026, Raja appeared before Magistrate Michelle Mathias in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, where he was remanded into custody until June 15, 2026, following the discovery of the weapons.
Raja reportedly resides at at Back Street, Goed Fortuin Village, West Bank Demerara.
The incident unfolded on May 22, when police conducted a stop-and-search operation along the Berbice River Bridge Access Road in the early hours of the morning. During this operation, officers tried to stop a black Toyota Fielder Wagon, registered as HC 9018, but the driver refused to comply, speeding away from the scene. This prompted police to intensify their efforts, leading them to No. 11 Village Public Road, where they discovered the rifles carefully concealed in cloth and plastic wrappings.
Upon closer inspection, officers identified the firearms as 7.62x39mm rifles, commonly linked with military-grade weaponry. Disturbingly, evidence suggested that some of the firearms had been deliberately altered, likely to obscure their serial numbers and make tracking more challenging.
Raja’s apprehension came after police sourced intelligence that led them to identify him as the driver who fled. They subsequently intercepted him at Nabaclis on the East Coast, reinforcing concerns that he may be part of a larger network involved in the illegal arms trade. Further complicating matters, a second vehicle, a white Toyota RunX with the registration PSS 4272, was discovered abandoned in New Amsterdam, further tying Raja’s alleged activities to a significant arms smuggling operation.
This alarming incident has highlighted the issue of illegal firearms in our society, where the spread of such weapons poses grave threats to public safety. The ease with which these arms can get into communities not only fosters crime but also raises serious questions about the government’s ability to maintain law and order. While the police are taking steps to combat this issue, the apparent increase in firearm-related incidents points to a systemic failure that cannot be overlooked.
Recent statistics paint a stark picture of the crisis; the Guyana Police Force reported an unprecedented number of illegal firearms seized over the past couple of years. The influx of weapons from countries such as the United States and Brazil underscores a broader, more complex problem linked to our nation being a transit point in the international drug trade.
