A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier is recovering from a gunshot wound after a military patrol was fired upon by armed gangs positioned on the Venezuelan bank of the Cuyuni River. The incident occurred today, the same day Guyana presented oral submissions to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the ongoing border controversy.
According to sources familiar with the matter, two GDF vessels were conducting a routine patrol in the Cuyuni River when they were targeted by gunfire originating from the western side of the border. One rank sustained a gunshot injury during the exchange, which has since been described as non-life-threatening. Preliminary reports point to armed gangs operating on the Venezuelan side, as the primary suspects in the assault.
Security sources indicate that this is the second time in the past two years that Guyanese patrols came under fire in this specific corridor. The Cuyuni River serves as a critical transit point for both military logistics and local mining activities, making it a high-friction zone for cross-border criminal elements. The timing of the attack, coinciding with Guyana’s legal proceedings at the Peace Palace in The Hague, has raised significant concerns regarding the intent behind the provocation.
The GDF has not yet issued a formal statement on the specifics of the tactical response, but surveillance in the area is expected to be heightened. Sources emphasize that these patrols remain essential for maintaining territorial integrity and monitoring the movements of irregular armed groups.
