By Mark DaCosta- The police have launched an investigation into the abduction of two men, believed to have been taken by a Venezuelan criminal organisation known as a Sindicato gang, operating in the Eteringbang region. The incidents leading to this inquiry unfolded on August 25, 2025, when authorities were alerted to the situation involving the two victims.
In a distressing turn of events, Dameon Williams, a 41-year-old boat builder from River’s View along the Essequibo River, reported that his father, Fredrick Pollard — an experienced boat captain aged 66 — had gone missing during a routine fuel transportation trip. Pollard had left Devil Hole Landing on August 21 at around 05:00 hours, intending to shuttle fuel to Ekereku Backdam. On August 24, he contacted his son, indicating that he was on his way back and had an unidentified male with him. Since that last communication, the family has had no contact with Pollard.
The situation escalated when, on August 25 at approximately 13:00 hours, Williams received alarming news from a stranger. The caller informed him that Pollard had been taken captive by a Venezuelan gang while he was near Botanamu Creek. After further confirmation of these details, police investigations were set in motion. Williams later clarified that he had not posted any information regarding the incident on social media, despite questions surrounding online discussions about the case.
In a separate line of enquiry, police from the Eteringbang station reached out to a Venezuelan boat captain, Collin Mathews, known locally as ‘Blacks.’ During an interview, Mathews revealed that he was also a victim of the same gang and had experienced a traumatic encounter. While navigating the Venezuelan coastline with passengers, Mathews heard gunfire and soon found himself and his clientele at the mercy of armed men who claimed allegiance to the Sindicato gang. He described a scene in which he, along with nine other passengers, were threatened at gunpoint and witnessed Pollard and another individual held captive in the same area.
The gang, reportedly involved in various criminal enterprises, such as drug trafficking and extortion, operates in Venezuela and across the border into Guyana. Their activities often target vulnerable individuals engaged in informal trade along waterways, making the rivers of our nation perilous for those who depend on them for livelihood.
According to Mathews, their captors stole a drum of fuel from his vessel before allowing them to leave, demonstrating not only their audaciousness but the precarious situation for anyone traversing these waters. The police have since gathered written statements from Mathews and the nine other witnesses accompanying him, all corroborating his account of the harrowing ordeal.
This alarming incident raises serious questions about safety and security in our borders, particularly given the continued threat posed by the Sindicato gang and other criminal factions. Local citizens, including Williams, expressed concern about the apparent inability of law enforcement to protect the livelihoods and lives of those working in these treacherous areas. The ongoing investigation into the kidnapping highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to tackle the surge of crime that increasingly endangers ordinary lives.
As the investigation progresses, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies to not only focus on the individuals responsible for this crime, but also evaluate the systemic issues that enable such gangs to operate with relative impunity. With rising crime rates, a call for improved security measures is necessary, placing pressure on current policymakers to address concerns that affect citizens daily. Our nation deserves effective governance and robust law enforcement; it is time for our leaders to step up and protect the people.
