Businessman Randy Jagdeo reportedly surrendered to police on Sunday, hours after the Guyana Police Force issued a wanted bulletin seeking him for questioning in connection with the discovery of 23 AK-47 rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at Schoonard, West Bank Demerara.
The bulletin named Jagdeo and Orlando Gabriel as wanted for questioning in relation to the alleged unlawful possession of firearms. Police appealed to members of the public to provide information that could lead to the whereabouts or apprehension of the two men.
By Sunday afternoon, Jagdeo, accompanied by his attorney, reported to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, where he reportedly remained in police custody while investigators continued their inquiries. Gabriel remained at large up to press time.
Police have not publicly disclosed what evidence, if any, links either man to the weapons cache, and neither has been charged with any offence in connection with the seizure. The investigation remains ongoing.
The development quickly drew political attention, with the Alliance For Change (AFC) questioning whether the investigation would be pursued without fear or favour. In a statement titled “Will Jagdeo Be Allowed to Escape Justice Again?” the party said the allegations raised “serious questions about accountability and national security.”
The AFC further asked: “Will Jagdeo face legal accountability, or will political affiliations within the PPP shield him from justice?” The party also argued that Guyanese deserve “accountability, transparency, and reassurance that no one is above the law.”
The case stems from a major law enforcement operation last Thursday when officers attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted a vehicle on the West Bank of Demerara and uncovered a cache of 23 AK-47 rifles and 503 rounds of ammunition.
Authorities said the weapons are believed to have been manufactured in the United States.
Investigators revealed that only one of the rifles retained its serial number. The identifying markings on the remaining 22 firearms had been removed, a detail likely to complicate efforts to trace their origin and ownership. The weapons are currently undergoing forensic examination.
The seizure has heightened concerns about the apparent movement of military-style weapons within Guyana and raised fresh questions about the existence of organized firearms trafficking networks.
It is the second major discovery of AK-47 rifles in less than a month.
On May 22, police intercepted a Toyota Fielder along the No. 11 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, and recovered ten AK-47 rifles concealed in plastic and cloth. Investigators later determined that identifying markings on those weapons had also been tampered with.
That investigation resulted in the arrest and charging of a taxi driver. Police subsequently issued wanted bulletins for Gregory Persaud and Antonio Alonzo Lawrie, both of whom later surrendered to authorities.
The two men were charged and remanded to prison, while Persaud was separately charged with illegal possession of firearms.
The latest case has attracted additional public attention because of Jagdeo’s profile and previous encounters with the criminal justice system.
Jagdeo has previously been the subject of high-profile criminal allegations, including a treason-related charge in 2025 and a murder charge in 2013. Both matters generated significant public attention but were ultimately dismissed by the courts.
Police have not suggested any connection between those earlier cases and the current firearms investigation.
The emergence of two substantial caches of assault-style rifles within a matter of weeks has intensified scrutiny of Guyana’s border security and law enforcement capabilities, particularly at a time when authorities continue to confront narcotics trafficking, organized crime and cross-border smuggling activities.
The Guyana Police Force has urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of Orlando Gabriel to contact the nearest police station or the Criminal Investigation Department.
Meanwhile, investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the Schoonard seizure, including how the weapons entered the country, who may have been responsible for transporting them and whether the discovery is linked to broader criminal networks operating in Guyana.
With 33 AK-47 rifles recovered in two separate operations within three weeks, the latest investigation has evolved into one of the most significant firearms probes in recent years, bringing renewed scrutiny to illegal weapons trafficking, public security and whether authorities will follow the evidence wherever it leads.
