SIX bandits early yesterday morning attacked unarmed guards at the BM Enterprise Fish Processing Plant at Houston, East Bank Demerara, and carted off some $1.8M in cash.

It was the second time this year that BM’s facility, situated along the Demerara River, was robbed.

Mr. Gopienauth Sowdagar, Administrative Manager of BM Enterprise

According to the company’s Administrative Manager Mr. Gopienauth Sowdagar the six-armed men apparently came by river and cut the fence to gain entrance to the premises.

Once they had entered the compound, the bandits attacked the guards.

Sowdagar points to place where the gunmen cut the padlocks to gain entry to the company’s office complex yesterday. 

(Picture by Cullen Bess Nelson)

One of the guards said that he was tied up and scotch tape was placed across his mouth.

The other guards were made to lie on the ground, while another escaped to the roof and observed the actions of the gunmen.

According to Sowdagar, the bandits cut the locks of the main grill door to gain entry to the company’s offices.

Upon entering the office complex, the men forced open the inner door, which leads to the cashier and Chief Executive’s offices.

Gunmen cart off $2M from B.E.V. Houston plant

Thursday, July 26, 2007

They broke into the cabinet and a cash register and stole a quantity of currency, which included the pay packets of the company’s employees. Those workers were scheduled to be paid yesterday afternoon.

The gunmen then proceeded into the CEO’s office and ransacked his desk, where they found a small amount of cash.

Altogether, Sowdagar said, the amount of cash stolen is in the vicinity of $1.8M.

He said that BM Enterprise has a security pool of 23 guards, none of whom is armed.

Sowdagar said the company has applied “time and time again” for firearms, but to no avail.

“Up to now we’ve not even been given an acknowledgement. It’s rather pathetic,” he lamented.

BM Enterprise, which started operations in early 1993, employs about 400 persons. The company, which is involved in seafood processing for overseas markets, only expanded its operations this year.

In May last, bandits attacked the plant. At that time they also beat the guards before breaking into freezers and taking away a large quantity of prawns. (NEIL MARKS)

Saturday, July 27, 2002