Following leads the operation moved to Dream Works Housing Development, another business place owned by Khan at Farm, East Bank Demerara. At that location two persons were detained, and a 17-ft go fast boat, a canter truck, and a small safe were seized. Shortly after, the statement said a search was conducted at Lot 115 Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt Park where Hinckson and Gibson were found. A .38 pistol and 12 matching rounds, along with 27, 12-gauge shot gun cartridges were found in the house. Additionally, the Joint Services said one person was also detained at 35 Guyhoc Park, Greater Georgetown during the sweep. "As the Joint Services continue to pursue persons for whom wanted bulletins have been issued, gratitude is extended to members of the public who have provided invaluable information," the statement said.

There was high drama in South Ruimveldt, when around 2 pm the lawmen swooped on Hinckson and Gibson at the house. A small crowd stood from a distance as the operation proceeded. Stabroek News understands that Hinckson and Gibson were caught unaware. They were allowed to have a change of clothing and Gibson was seen leaving the house with a big bag. Hinckson, in the meantime was very composed and at times was seen smiling and even engaged ranks in brief conversations.

According to reports Hinckson owns the house the two men were holed up in, but he was not around recently and another relative was looking after it.

Hinckson is said also to have a house on Robb Street, while Gibson who hails from Buxton had fled the village since the bulletin was published for him. Relatives of the Buxtonian said that they had pleaded with him to turn himself over to the army when the bulletin was issued, but he never listened. Gibson would later move out from Buxton, the relative said and basically cut off all communication with his family.

The relative said however, that it was not strange that Gibson was found in the company of Hinckson since the two of them went to the University of Guyana together and might have developed a good relationship.

The joint services operation lasted around two hours, during which time they climbed on top of Hinckson's roof and also scaled a trestle holding a black water tank. While reporters were prevented from entering the yard during the operation one could have seen from outside, Hinckson guiding ranks through the house as they conducted their searches. At the scene was Second-in-Command of the GDF, Colonel Lawrence Paul and Senior Police Superintendent Cedrick Caesar. Questioned by reporters, Colonel Paul said that the joint services were pursuing every single lead which could result in the recovery of the missing weapons. According to the Colonel, the police were in charge of the investigation, which was being led by Caesar. Stabroek News understands however, that the army first interviewed the duo before handing them over to the police.

Hinckson, who was dismissed from the army during the PNC administration, had a problem with the state at the time. Stabroek News was told that the man was in the first batch of soldiers from Guyana to be trained at the prestigious Sandhurst military school in England. However, army sources said that after the man returned from England his behaviour did not conform to what was expected of him.

Gibson on the other hand, had joined the army sometime in 2000 as a Cadet Officer but was dismissed shortly after when he did not reach the training standard.

Since leaving the army it is not clear what Gibson, who is formerly of Lot 19, Middle Walk Buxton, has been doing but he appeared in court twice in recent years.

On October 30, 2002 Gibson was charged with the murder of Police Constable Outar Kissoon who was killed in July of that year. He allegedly committed the offence on July 22, 2002 at Rose Hall, Corentyne during an armed raid on the Rose Hall Police Outpost. Others who perished in that incident were Police Constable Ramphal Pardat, 52, and Balram Kandhi, 17, a delegate at the PPP Congress which had just ended.

However, the murder charge was subsequently discharged as it stemmed from him being apprehended on the New Amsterdam ferry with the gun that might have been used to kill Kissoon. The following year, on February 3, he appeared before another magistrate and was accused of the unlawful possession of a pistol and a rifle alleged to have been used in the killing of two lawmen. He was granted half a million dollars bail. This charge also stemmed from the ferry incident.

The army had said that its interest in the men arose from many calls it received on their lines.

Since announcing on February 27 that the 30 rifles went missing, the joint services have conducted numerous raids around the country. On Saturday they recovered one of the weapons in a clump of bushes at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara. So far ballistics tests have shown that the weapon was never used and is still brand new.