Jaguar Operatives say it deters crime and made plenty seizures

elodio aragon jr.

It was initiated on May sixteenth and its objective was to suppress major crime such as murders, attempted murders and put a cap on gang activity.  And since then, those in charge of the joint B.D.F., Police effort called Operation Jaguar say it has achieved its goal and will continue until it transforms into another effort to stem street crime and violence in Belize City.  During a press conference at Militia Hall in Belize City this afternoon, the leaders of the operation, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Elodio Aragon Jr., and Major David Jones, said over the past three weeks of the project’s life, not only has it deterred violent crime but it has netted significant amounts of seizures in cash, drugs but only a few weapons.

A.C.P. Elodio Aragon Jr., Head, Operation Jaguar

“This operation is based on intelligence. Majority of our arrests has been for possession or drugs and for drug trafficking. And so these people who get arrested for possession of drugs and drug trafficking, those are serious offences, serious charges and as such majority of those persons if they do not make bail, they find themselves remanded. When it comes to the aspect of guns, ammunition on the streets of Belize, we know that there are firearms out there and we are doing our best to take them off the streets. Now a lot of this is based on intelligence so the intelligence aspect of policing must come into play to bear on what we do out there. Because we are actually the police officers, the B.D.F. and the coast guard who respond and react based on intelligence. So to a large extent we are largely dependent on the intelligence and the assistance of the general public. Now this operation jaguar was no secret when it was coming out and as such I am quite sure that many people that had illegal firearms must have hidden these things. But this is where we are working on a daily basis with the police intelligence and B.D.F. to look at where we could come up with the proper intelligence to ensure that we take some of these guns off the street. it is not an easy job, but we are working on it.”

Major David Jones, B.D.F.

major david jones

“From the time the public has been aware of this operation I suspect that these guys would start to hide the weapons. But the main aim for this operation was to reduce the crime rate especially the shootings that were happening in Belize City and reduce the amount of murders. Just prior to this operation, there had been quite a number of murders occurring—sometimes twice a day, sometimes three times for the day. Since this operation has started we haven’t had murders occur within the areas that jaguar has been occurring. So, it’s mainly as a deterrent and to keep the area of Belize City that has been ridden with high crime safer and we have been achieving this so far.  And we will not stay specific within any area as well. If there is something that needs to be responded to outside of jaguar’s area, we will move. If there is something on the highway that we have the capability to move and to deal, we will also move and deal with it because if resources are tied up with the regular police duties, we are going to use our resources to respond to any criminal acts that are within the city or outside city limits.”