Police and officers of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) swooped on Buddy's Farm on the East Bank Demerara on Tuesday night and seized a large quantity of fuel believed to have been smuggled from Trinidad and Tobago. Ten persons were arrested.

Three large static tanks, three tanker trucks, several drums and a fishing vessel, Ashley S, said to have been used to transport the fuel have been seized by the police. The farm has a wharf on the Demerara River.

Two of those arrested were said to be the owner of the vessel, which is registered with the Guyana Trawlers Association and the owner of the three tanker trucks. The others were said to be truck drivers and persons found on the premises. Officials of Buddy's Farm declined to comment when Stabroek News visited the premises yesterday in connection with the seizure.

An official at the GEA described the bust as the largest since efforts were stepped up to stamp out fuel smuggling. According to reports, the GEA and other enforcement agencies had been tipped off many times about the operation at Coverden Public Road. Investigations have intensified and charges will be laid against the men, the GEA official said.

According to reports, around 8.30 on Tuesday night, following surveillance by a GEA official, a team of policemen and enforcement officers of the GEA pounced on the East Bank Demerara complex. A security guard was manning the front gate. Two of the persons in custody, along with another man who hails from the interior, were at the back of the yard coordinating the distribution of the fuel. Most of the fuel, according to reports, was destined for the interior.

Stabroek News was told that the police officers briefed those in the compound about what they were doing before seizing the tanker trucks and the static tanks. On checking, the red and white vessel with registration number 0000258 was found anchored in the Demerara River behind the farm.

The GEA official said there was reason to believe that the persons involved have been smuggling fuel for a long time now. Asked about the value of the fuel, the official said it was substantial, but could not give a figure.

According to reports, the fuel - gasoline and diesel - was shipped from Trinidad and Tobago. The GEA official said the agency would contact its Trinidadian counterpart to gather more details about the vessel and the owner. The GEA official told this newspaper that Tuesday evening's bust was as a result of constant surveillance and intelligence gathering. The official said he had taken it upon himself to locate the complex before Tuesday evening. The GEA several years ago introduced a fuel marking system to reduce rampant smuggling from Venezuela. However it is thought that some smuggling is still continuing especially with the high cost of fuel internationally.

It is estimated that at least 10% of the fuel in the country is smuggled. It could not be determined when the fuel seized on Tuesday entered the country and the GEA official said this information might be available from the Transport and Harbours Department.

When Stabroek News visited the East Bank Demerara complex yesterday, a policeman was guarding the front gate, while GEA officers were at the back testing the fuel and searching the bond. Officials of the farm declined to comment.

At the front of the complex is a big signboard which says: "Buddy's Farm Fresh Halaal processed chicken" but it is difficult to tell what is going on at the back of the yard from the public road. The farm yard is about 150 metres long and appears to be occupying a double lot. Inside, there is a bond, a green building measuring about 100 metres in length. From the front, the bond would block one's view of the back of the yard where the wharf is located. Several pumps connected to the tankers, drums and generator could be seen in the yard.

The vessel was tied to a plank attached to a dilapidated landing at the back of the complex. In an apparent attempt to conceal the operations, most of the boards of the landing were missing, giving the impression that there was no business going on there. There was a small hole in the zinc fence, which is used as a gate. Impressions of some sort of fuel business were however evident in the river near to the complex and the pungent smell of gas would confirm this.