Shootout and Burglary at Customs Department Office

The Customs Department has been hit several times by burglars who have tried to get past security to jack containers loaded with the popular illegal drug pseudoephedrine. Early Thursday morning, there was another major attack on the Customs and Excise Department at the corner of Caesar Ridge Road and Central American Boulevard. Heavy shooting took place but nothing was stolen. After three a.m. several men gained entrance to the compound by cutting a large hole through the chain linked fence to the rear of the left side of the building. Their identities have not been confirmed, but it is known that they walked along the side of the building to the front where they broke several louvers to an office through which they gained entrance. They were heavily armed with guns and ammunition, including an AK-forty-seven. While they roamed the building, a customs guard and a security officer, were at the security booth. A second customs guard, who was not on duty, arrived early and saw movements inside the building. He rushed to get a weapon from the security office. When the guard exited the room, he came face to face with the AK-forty-seven, but the intruder ran when he saw the guard’s weapon. The guard also took off outside, to block the intruders at corner where they entered the building. And while he ran, the perpetrators started shooting at him from the other side of the glass windows and doors. The glass on the front door was shattered, and bullets were sprayed while the guard continued to run along the front of the building. Bullet holes, chipped walls and broken glass were evident along the front of the building. The guard also shot back but neither he nor the shooters were injured. The police got on the scene less than five minutes later and caught several men outside the compound. However, one man, twenty four year old Brian Young, was caught inside the bathroom on the second floor. Officers recovered an AK-forty-seven rifle with one magazine containing twenty-three live rounds of seven point six-seven, five expended shells and a bag containing assorted tools. Five suspects are now in custody and are expected to be charged for Aggravated Assault on Monday. Police sources say that the two men who were on guard duty that night, a customs security officer and a customs guard are also being held for questioning. It is believed that the perpetrators were familiar with at least one of the guards on duty. It is also suspected that the perpetrators were looking for guns and ammunition used by the Customs Department in the line of duty or confiscated items. Even if the burglars were successful in reaching the secure location inside the building, they would have been disappointed since most weapons are deployed for ongoing un-customed goods operations throughout the country.