Eight members of the Presidential Guard and four civilians were arrested early yesterday morning as police probe the deliberate destruction of facilities at an East Bank Demerara sand-loading facility.The damage amounted to about $5M. According to reports, the Presidential Guards were acting as enforcers for a Brazilian national who is presently engaged in a bitter dispute with the owner of the now damaged facility.The Brazilian national, who had reportedly led yesterday’s operation, is also in custody, while police have impounded four vehicles that were used.Several other persons managed to flee the scene and police are looking for a route 43 minibus, BJJ 6572 that had transported the perpetrators.Last evening, Police Commissioner Henry Greene said that the Presidential Guards have been released into the custody of the guards.He said that the men were not sent officially and that they were allegedly recruited by the Brazilian.Damaged conveyor beltThe Commissioner said that his ranks got a frantic call from guards at the facility and responded to find the Brazilian, some civilians and the Presidential Guards dismantling the facility.Kaieteur News understands that the gang of men damaged a conveyor belt that facilitates the loading of sand onto barges in the Demerara River, and they were in the process of dismantling several other components of machinery with the aid of cutting torches when the police intervened.The perpetrators also cut the facility’s power supply and fled, leaving behind a truck, registered to a W. Gonsalves of Citrus Grove, Port Kaituma.Joseph Bhaskarran, owner of the facility, Guyana Sand Port, estimates the damage to be in excess of $5M.From all appearances, the incident stems from bad blood between Bhaskarran and his former Brazilian partner. This newspaper was reliably informed that the two had a falling out earlier this year and the Brazilian reportedly made moves to the court to shut down and create a monopoly with a rival sand exporter, who is a well known East Coast Demerara businessman.However, the move to the court failed, and it appears that the Brazilian resorted to taking the law into his own hands, using the Presidential Guards as enforcers.An employee of the Guyana Sand Port told this newspaper that he and another security staff were on duty at the facility when he observed a car approach the gate. `This was at around 01:30 hours.The employee said that he observed that the guard at the gate became afraid and moved away when four men emerged from the car. There were three other cars, a minibus and a truck behind the car.The men, he said, proceeded to break the padlocks on the gate with sledge hammers and forcibly enter the compound.Thinking that the place was being attacked by bandits,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, since one of the men was wearing a mask,Wholesale Jerseys China, the employee hurriedly hid himself.The masked man was later identified as the Brazilian business partner.The employee said that he heard one of the men identify himself as a policeman and he emerged from his hiding place only to be harassed by the men.“They tell we we got to come out the compound, we trespassing and they put gun to we head. They hit me partner,” the employee stated. He explained that by now several men had emerged from the other vehicles and entered the compound, and the man wearing the mask began frantically issuing instructions.“He tell them ‘go ahead,NFL Jerseys China, cut out de belt’, and he went with them and I move off,” the employee told Kaieteur News.Even the facility’s power supply was targeted. He managed to flee the compound and went to his boss’s home where he informed him about what was happening.Bhaskarran in turn contacted the police and went to the scene with three ranks, where they found all the perpetrators in the compound. But when they tried to enter they were prevented by two men who produced identifications cards, claiming they were members of the Presidential Guard.“They had an argument and the Brazilian chucked one of the policemen down,” the employee related.Eventually, back up was sent for and some of the perpetrators managed to flee the scene leaving the truck and welding equipment behind.“The bus driver drive away with the rest ah men, and de police order the four vehicle to drive along with them to the station. They had about twenty-five people who come hey because dey got about fifteen ah dem in de lock-up,” he stated.“Some had gas bottle, cutting torch, cutlass, gun and all deh at de station, wha de police pick up,Cheap Jerseys From China,” the employee added.This newspaper understands that one of the presidential guards told police that they were recruited by a well-known Pandit, who told them that he needed them to assist a friend.The Pandit