Minister of Home Affairs, Gail Teixeira

"Guyana and Suriname have been examining the gun/cocaine trade into Guyana, which involves some of the back track operations going on at Corentyne," the Government Information News Agency (GINA) quoted Minister Teixeira.

The Minister was at the time responding to a situation where a Canada-based Guyanese family at Betsy Ground, East Canje on April 16 was robbed.

Berbice, located east of the country's capital of Georgetown, borders Suriname. Earlier this year Suriname officials said they had uncovered a plot where drugs were traded for guns, an activity that involved criminals on both sides of the border.

The Minister called on Community Policing groups to assist law enforcement agencies. "Community policing is not only about patrolling, but also involves the gathering of intelligence and the sharing of information with the police," she indicated.

Minister Teixeira hinted that ongoing raids by the Joint Services in Guyana's capital, Georgetown, has resulted in an upsurge in criminal activity elsewhere, such as in Berbice. The Joint Service operation is aimed at the recovery of a quantity of high powered rifles that were discovered missing earlier this year.