Stolen Ministry of Works grader presumed to be in Guatemala

Cadet Henderson

An extensive search is underway for a government owned 2000 12-H grader that was stolen from the Ministry of Works just after midday on Wednesday. The operator, Dwayne Arthurs, was grading the Young Gial Road in Teakettle Village in the Cayo District when he was held up by three armed men believed to be Guatemalans. Arthurs was tied, gagged and then dragged to nearby bushes.  The bandits then threatened to kill Arthurs if he left the bushes within three hours of their departure. Officials from the Ministry of Works were informed sometime around four p.m. and since then, B.D.F. and police officers have been working around the clock—on the ground and airborne—combing the area to locate the grader. News Five caught up with C.E.O. in the Ministry of Works, Cadet Henderson, who said that the grader is used for the maintenance of fifty percent of the roads in the Cayo District.

Cadet Henderson, C.E.O., Ministry of Works

“It is alleged that it happened between noon and one p.m. yesterday. And we learned about it around four yesterday because the operator was tied and gagged and was in the bushes. He feared for his life and was threatened that he would killed if he come out within three hours. Immediately after we had B.D.F. support with both aircraft as well as ground troops, who are armed, as well as police. We had a hired helicopter that combed the area. We have quite some eyewitness report since morning about sightings of this grader with two Hispanic people on the grader heading towards the border of Guatemala in the vicinity beyond Bullet Tree. So we feel convinced that it is in that area. We’ve had communications with officials in Guatemala both from police end as well as personally I’ve had communication from people in the congress who have increased the alert from the point of view of the Department of Defense. So we hope to have some stronger leads later today. Beyond Bullet Tree there are some illegal crossing where contraband activities is known to occur and so we have people on the ground there that took a private helicopter this morning and are trying to get some further leads. But there are several areas where they can cross illegally. Eyewitness describe two people on the grader and four men in sort of an escort vehicle—a grayish silver pickup that was traveling behind the grader.”

Duane Moody

“What will be done when these people are apprehended?”

Cadet Henderson

“The minister and I will do our best to make sure that the maximum consequences, penalties are imposed on them.”

According to Henderson, Guatemalan authorities say the grader was last spotted on a trailer in the Peten area, presumably heading to Guatemala City.