Gang equipped with drones, high-powered rifles terrorizing gold miners
November 14 2026
By Michael Jordan
– Led by a man who is wanted for two murders, a heavily armed gang, equipped with drones and Global Positioning Devices is spreading terror in various gold mining areas.
A heavily armed gang, reportedly equipped with drones and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, is terrorising gold miners across several interior regions, carrying out violent attacks on mining camps and escaping with large quantities of raw gold.
Sources have identified notorious gunman Kevin Fredericks, of Onderneeming Sand Pit Road, Essequibo, as the alleged leader of the gang. Fredericks is wanted for murder and is also linked to a series of armed robberies.
BIG Smith News Watch has confirmed that the gang struck on Sunday, November 8, at a gold dredging operation at Sands, Region Seven, where miners were reportedly held at gunpoint, beaten and robbed of their gold.
One of the miners, who recounted the terrifying ordeal to this newscast, said the workers had just completed washing down — the process of collecting raw gold — and were returning to their camp on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) when two men armed with high-powered rifles suddenly emerged from the bushes.
The miner said the gunmen were also equipped with a drone and a GPS device, which he described as being similar to those used by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
“One of the men had four guns. They put us to lie down and ask us for the gold,” the miner recounted.
He said one of the gunmen subsequently took a miner into the bushes and forced him to help hoist a very heavy bag.
The bandits also ordered one of the captives to tie up the other miners at the camp, effectively restraining the workers while they carried out the robbery.
However, one of the victims attempted to free himself, prompting the gunmen to respond with further violence.
“One of the men tried free himself, and they fired a shot over his head and stomped on him. I think one of his ribs broke,” the miner said.
After collecting the gold, the gunmen reportedly seized the miners’ ATV and escaped along a trail.
The victim believes the men were heading towards an area known as ‘Callalloo’.
BIG Smith News Watch has since received additional reports of attacks on other mining camps by heavily armed men, raising concerns that a coordinated gang may be targeting lucrative gold operations throughout the interior.
The miner who spoke with this newscast suspects that the criminals are using drones to conduct aerial surveillance of dredging operations, allowing them to monitor the movements of miners and identify opportunities to strike.
There are also concerns that the gang may be receiving assistance from individuals familiar with the locations and operations of profitable gold-mining sites.
Contacted about the reports, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat previously confirmed that Police and army ranks had been deployed to the interior in response to the attacks.
The Fredericks twins, Kevin and Kellon, have been linked in previous years to several violent attacks on gold-mining operations in Regions Two and Seven.
In March 2024, the brothers were allegedly involved in an ambush at Arimu, Cuyuni, which left two businessmen dead.
The victims were identified as businessman Zaheer Mohamed Sheriff and his employee, Donavan Washington, who were reportedly killed during the attack.
The perpetrators escaped with an estimated $37 million worth of raw gold, along with a licensed revolver and a shotgun.
Travis and Fernando Fredericks, who are related to the twins, as well as Teddy Thomas and James Jerrick, were subsequently charged in connection with the murders.
However, the Fredericks brothers remained on the run following the deadly attack.
That changed in April 2025, when Kellon Fredericks was found dead at Onderneeming, Essequibo, with a gunshot wound to his head.
His twin brother, Kevin, however, remains wanted and is now being identified by sources as the alleged mastermind behind the latest wave of armed attacks on miners.
The reported use of drones, GPS equipment and multiple high-powered firearms has heightened concerns among miners operating in remote areas, where isolated camps leave workers particularly vulnerable to heavily armed attackers.
