Gunmen snatch $100M in diamonds

Jul 25, 2008 News

– in daring Church Street robbery

Gunmen escaped with millions of dollars in diamond, gold and cash yesterday during a daring daylight heist at the Battle Green Diamond Mineral Establishment in Church Street, Alberttown.
Police said that the haul included an estimated US$508,000 in diamonds, US $5,000 in gold, and more than $2M in local currency.
A police release identified the victims as David Paise, a Swiss national who owns the establishment; and Amar Panday, a diamond grader who resides on East Bank Demerara.
Kaieteur News understands that Paise and Persaud were in the building when three men arrived at the premises at around 12:30 hrs.
The men indicated that they had diamonds to sell and were allowed to enter.
Once they were inside, the men drew firearms and forced Persaud to take them into an office, where they also held Paise at gunpoint.
Police said that one of the gunmen then forced Persaud to open a safe containing a large quantity of diamonds and raw gold.
The men then took $50,000 from Persaud before escaping.