Handgun and Ammunition Found Near Barrio el Juda

The discovery of a high-powered weapon in the vicinity of Barrio el Juda, along the western border with Guatemala near Benque Viejo, raises serious concerns regarding border security.  On Monday, a joint patrol including the Special Patrol Unit and the Belize Defense Force, not far from Xunantunich, turned up a handgun outfitted with Micro-RONI accessories.  Earlier today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams spoke about the find.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“It is indeed an area of concern to us.  There, and many other areas along the Belize Western Border, the whole area of Arenal is also of concern, this area where those ammunitions were found were more on the Xunantunich side and we do have patrols in the area from MIT that work along with customs because it is also a focus for the human trafficking or human struggling route, and so we always try to maintain presence there.  Perhaps those ammunitions were being placed there to be collected by some Belizean to be brought into the country.  So it was a good find for us that we were able to find them and take possession of them before they got into the hands of criminals.”

Reporter

“Do you think heavy firepower like that with automatic accessories, do you think they’ve been smuggled into Belize before?”

Chester Williams

“The Roni would not be automatic, it is still semiautomatic.  But certainly, I wouldn’t dismiss the fact that maybe others have been smuggled into the country before.”

Reporter

“How much of an area of concern is this for you, because from what we have learned, there is a practice of indiscipline in that area and we saw it with the loss of M4 carbines.  This is what happens.”

Chester Williams

“Other than the composite with the police and BDF, we do have the other patrol with police and customs and that one we have found to be more efficient.  They have been the ones who have intercepted most of the human smuggling people, as well as intercepting drugs and other contraband goods coming into the country.”