A Lieutenant, two Lance Corporals and a Private of the Guyana Defence Force were handed over to the police, on Tuesday, as investigations into an armed robbery at a mining camp commenced.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud confirmed yesterday that the men were handed over along with a quantity of raw gold and large amount of cash.

The soldiers were initially detained by the army following allegations of robbery under arms committed at Five Star, in the Barima-Waini area, last Thursday.

According to the GDF, the officer and soldiers were engaged in a patrol in Region One at the time the alleged incident occurred.

In a statement issued yesterday, the army said that preliminary reports indicate that last Thursday, the officer and three soldiers allegedly robbed a mining camp in the area.

Reports reaching this newspaper stated that the ranks entered the camp and, holding everyone at gunpoint, demanded that they hand over gold and cash.

The victims complied but contacted the owner of the camp, who was not at the location, immediately after the ranks left.

A report was made and following searches conducted by a GDF investigative team which intercepted the patrol, a quantity of gold and a large amount of cash were found.

A source told Kaieteur News that the raw gold amounted to in excess of two ounces, while the amount of cash is still unknown.

The GDF statement said that the administration of the Force remains totally committed to a transparent and thorough investigation of the incident.