Ammunition “factory” found in Belize City

Characterizing it as a raid on a “portable ammunition factory” and saying that police would be available for questions on this major event, the police held a press conference at the Raccoon Street Station this afternoon. But if they were criticized about saying too much about their cases in the past, today they swung completely in the opposite direction saying almost nothing at all.

If the media was looking to get some specific answers to questions surrounding one of the biggest ammunition raids in Belize City, they were disappointed today. Over two thousand slugs, bullet casing, expended shells and rifle primers recovered from a southside residence. While police wanted the media to view the take, they would not say where it was found.

Sgt. Claudio Mai, Detective, Special Branch

“We cannot, we cannot go into details at the moment. We are afraid to jeopardize the case. And you know that this has happened time and time again where the media insists in something that we cannot divulge and usually this results in prejudicing our cases and this has resulted in other cases going down the drain because of the sensitivity that we sometimes have, you all insist in giving up to you.”

According to police when they entered the building at eleven thirty p.m. on the twentieth, at least one person was inside… but, once again due to the sensitive nature of the investigation they can’t say anything more.

Sgt. Claudio Mai

“Yes, there was… but again what I am saying because of the sensitivity of it, we cannot give no details.”

While they did admit that several individuals are under investigation, the police would not say if any suspects have been taken into custody. So if they can’t tell the public anything yet because of the “sensitive” nature of the case… why call a press conference? Christy Castillo says the media was invited to the Raccoon Street Police Station to see the type of criminal activity going on in the city and what the police are doing to fight it.

Christy Castillo, Police Press Officer

“The raid is just a part of what has been an ongoing investigation. Special Branch’s duty is to collect intelligence and they have been doing this for a while. This one raid is a section of the investigation and it was even debated whether we should produce it now to the public. It is kind of an awareness to what has been going on and what the police have been doing, yet this case is in no way ending here.”

Q: “So you think this is part of a bigger operation?”

Christy Castillo

“We think obviously it is part of something that might be a lot bigger.”

Jacqueline Woods

“While at this time police are not giving the location of the house that was raided, they say the building was set up like a factory to manufacture bullets for the black market.”

Police say while is it known that sportsmen and criminals make their own ammunition using hand operated tools and equipment, they strongly believe this large amount was being manufactured for sale.

Sgt. Albert Ciego, Police Force Armory

“Firstly, we know sportsmen, shooters and hunters, would procure their ammunition. So we could without the shadow of a doubt say this is being conducted by criminals because sportsmen are people you would say who are law abiding; they would never think of an operation like this. Why should they?”

Police say the equipment seized is relatively new, but appears not have been in operation for at least six months.