Armed bandits escape with $12M in cash, phones during Canal No. 1 home invasion

Armed bandits carried out a brazen robbery during which they invaded the home of a Canal No. 1, West Bank Demerara farmer on Wednesday night before escaping with $12 million in cash and cellular phones.

Police Headquarters reported that the incident took place around 20:15 hrs.

Police said the victim, a 64-year-old farmer, was reportedly sitting under a shed on the lower flat of his residence with relatives when two men, both armed with what appeared to be handguns, entered the yard.

According to preliminary investigations, Police said the suspects confronted the occupants and ordered them to lie on the floor in the kitchen area while they demanded cash and other valuables.

During the ordeal, the farmer was allegedly assaulted by the armed men and subsequently led them to a white bucket inside the house where a large sum of money was being stored.

The bandits then removed $12 million from the bucket and also carted off four cellular phones value at approximately $400,000.

After carrying out the robbery, the suspects fled the scene in a silver-tinted Toyota Axio bearing an unknown registration number and headed west, Police said.

Investigators have since questioned several persons as they continue efforts to apprehend the suspects.

Police said CCTV footage were located and are expected to be reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.