Police in Region Seven are investigating the alleged abduction of a Guyanese boat captain and another man in the Cuyuni River area, believed to have been taken by a Venezuelan gang.
The missing boat captain has been identified as 66-year-old Fredrick Pollard from Bartica, Essequibo River. The identity of the second victim remains unknown.
Reports indicate that Pollard was operating a metal boat to shuttle fuel for a businessman between Devil Hole Landing and Ekereku Backdam. According to his son, Pollard departed Devil Hole Landing on August 21 around 5:00 AM for a fuel trip.
The last communication from Pollard to his son was on August 24 at 7:05 AM, when he mentioned he was returning from Ekereku Backdam with an unidentified porter. Since then, his son has not heard from him.
The son later received a call from an unknown individual claiming that his father was being held captive by the Syndicato gang near Botanamu Creek, Essequibo River.
Subsequent investigations revealed that a 36-year-old boat captain from San Martín, Venezuela, had encountered members of the Syndicato gang while traveling near Black Water Mouth with nine passengers. He reported that their boat was intercepted at gunpoint, and they were forced into a creek.
During this incident, the captain and his passengers reportedly saw Pollard and the unidentified male alive and being held captive. The abductors allegedly stole a drum of fuel from the Venezuelan captain’s vessel before allowing him and the others to leave.
Local police have since interviewed the nine passengers, who corroborated the boat captain’s account of the events.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are making efforts to secure the safe release of Pollard and the second unidentified victim.
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