Cops seek possible ‘crime wave’ link to AK-47, M-70 find

Mar 15, 2017 News

The Force’s ballistic experts are to examine bullet casings and warheads recovered from killings committed during the 2002-2009 ‘crime wave’ for a possible match to two high-powered weapons that were seized from the

An example of the Integrated Ballistics Identification System

home of a former associate of convicted drug dealer, Roger Khan.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that preliminary checks have turned up no link of the AK-47 and M-70 Assault rifle to any crime. The experts are therefore examining ballistic evidence recovered from the 2002 to 2009 ‘crime spree’. They are likely to focus particularly on evidence collected from the so called ‘phantom killings.’
But Blanhum said that the manual testing process is a ‘very laborious’ one, and the Force is at present “aggressively pursuing” attempts to acquire the “very expensive “ IBIS (Integrated Ballistics Identification System) equipment.
In addition, Blanhum said that the ranks who will be conducting ballistic tests are also often called upon to testify in court.
The Integrated Ballistics Identification System, or IBIS, is an automated ballistics imaging and analysis system that uses a computerized database of digital ballistic images of bullets and casings from crime guns.
Hundreds of people were slain by members of various gangs, including individuals allegedly hired by Khan, during the ‘crime wave.’ Ballistic tests conducted by the police had appeared to link gangs from the East Coast of Demerara and East Bank of Demerara to most of these slayings, including mass killings at Lusignan, Agricola and Bartica.