Coast Guards made unauthorised tripA joint criminal investigation involving representatives of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force’s G2 Branch and the Coast Guard has been launched to determine the exact mission of three ranks from the GDF who were detained by police at Parika on Sunday.The 150-horsepower engine and drums of suspected smuggled fuel that were removed from the boat used by the Coast Guards.The three Coast Guard ranks had made an unauthorised trip from the GDF Coast Guard Base at Morawahanna in Region One, and were in possession of three and one-half drums of fuel, four cellular phones, one GPS device,Wholesale Jerseys China, and $116,000.The officer was in possession of his service pistol and five rounds of matching ammunition.The ranks were arrested on directives given by the Chief-of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best.The pistol and the other items are in GDF custody.According to a statement from the GDF, the ranks aroused the suspicion of the police after they reportedly were asking for directions to Parika while on the Essequibo River.Residents alerted the police and the ranks were detained.At the time, the men were traveling in a wooden boat owned by a Better Hope, East Coast Demerara resident who operates a boat service from Charity to the North West District.Detectives are probing whether the ranks were on a criminally intended mission,Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic, although information received by this newspaper suggests otherwise.Crime Chief,Cheap NFL Jerseys, Seelall Persaud, declined to speculate what the men were up to until investigations are completed.The police, in a statement yesterday,Cheap Jerseys USA, said that acting on information, police ranks intercepted a boat at the Parika Stelling in which were three drums of suspected smuggled fuel.The police said that at the time of the incident one of the ranks was armed with his service pistol.“The ranks were not found with “high-powered weapons” as reported in the Kaieteur News today,” the statement said.Meanwhile, a female associate of one of the men in custody said that as far as she was aware the trip was of no criminal intent.The woman who asked not be identified said that the trip was for one of the army ranks to tie up a business deal.“We now trying to get some chicken up in Morowhanna to sell so they were coming out to meet the person to give them the money for the first set of chicken,” the female explained.A rank from the GDF Intelligence Unit examines the boat that was impounded by the police.She added, too, that the men, from all indication got lost along the river and decided to do what anyone would do, that is stop and ask for direction.She suggested that that may have caused persons to become suspicious about a strange boat in the area.The woman related to this newspaper that she was waiting at the Parika Ferry Stelling for most of Sunday for the army ranks but when they failed to show she became worried.“I though something went wrong because I know the trip was their first time, so around 5pm I left Parika,” she added.According to the woman, after leaving Parika she received a call from one of the ranks while she was at Den Amstel heading back to the city.The rank informed her that they were detained at the Parika Police Station.She explained that she then returned to Parika but she was not allowed to speak to any of the detainees.“The police ranks were very understanding. I got to give them meals,” the woman said. While at the Station yesterday at least three persons were able to verify the ranks’ story.Reports are that the only misdemeanor the ranks may have committed may be going on an unauthorised trip.The barrels of fuel were lodged at the Parika Police Station. Each barrel had its lid covered with a Guyana Energy Agency Seal.Also, the vessel which was used for the trip is somewhat questionable.Kaieteur News was initially told that the ranks, who were in civilian clothing, did not immediately identify themselves as members of the Guyana Defence Force.They were subsequently identified by an army Lieutenant Colonel who visited the Parika Station.Kaieteur News understands that the drama began yesterday morning when residents of Leguan spotted the trio on the island.The residents became suspicious and contacted the police, but decided to confront the men before the police came.By the time the police arrived, the trio had departed in the boat. However, police received information that the vessel was heading for Parika and were able to arrest the men when they arrived.The latest incident involving army ranks again brings into question the professionalism of ranks of the Guyana Defence Force.It was just two months ago