Violent crime down but guns proliferate
It may just be a matter of perception, but it seems that Belize is enjoying one of those rare periods of relative calm in the area of violent crime. But while the madness can, and will, re-emerge when we least expect it, one worry for law enforcement officials that never goes away, is the consistently high prevalence of guns. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has more.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
They have conducted thousands of searches and destroyed hundreds of illegal firearms and ammunition, but police efforts to rid the streets of lethal weapons are a never-ending task. Although the cops have a good idea of how the guns get into the country, it does not make their job any easier.
Sgt Chester Williams, O.C. Crimes Intelligence Unit
“Well we believe most of the weapons come into Belize through the borders, the northern border likewise the western border. Those are the two main points where the firearms come into the country.”
Once smuggled into the country, the weapons are used to intimidate, rob, maim and kill. How much more illegal firepower is out there? Numbers are hard to come by, but the consensus is that it’s plenty.
Sgt. Chester Williams
“Over the past few months, we the police, through the efforts of the Commissioner, have been embarking to get the firearms off the streets of Belize City. Many of these firearms have contributed to various crimes such as robberies, murders and so forth being committed. So the less weapons we have on the streets, the better it would be for us to reduce the crime situation.”
The weapons and bullets you see here on display were found at several houses during an anti-crime operation conducted this morning in Belize City.
Sgt. Chester Williams
“We have here a tech nine mm machine gun, this is a nine millimetre pistol. We have twelve gauge cartridges, point forty-four rounds, point forty-five rounds, nine millimetre rounds and point twenty-two rounds.”
A total of one hundred and eighty-one bullets and three guns were confiscated. Included in the collection is the tech nine automatic that was reported stolen from the Belmopan Criminal Investigation Branch in February. The police say for security reasons, they’ve decided to not release the name of the person who was found in possession of the weapon.
Sgt. Chester Williams
“It’s very difficult, it takes a lot of hard work and effort to get these types of weapons off the street. But it is our job, we spend many of our time on it so that we can get them off the street.”
Jacqueline Woods
“For example the operation that was conducted this morning, I guess it took some time to plan before you actually put it into effect.”
Sgt. Chester Williams
“Yes, it really does take some time to plan before we put it into effect. We always try to ensure that whenever we go, we don’t miss, because if we miss, they will know that we know what they have and then they will dispose of it.”
It is not certain if any of these weapons were used to commit murder, but one good piece of news is that unlike the fourteen murders that occurred through March eleventh 2002, so far only six murder cases have been reported in the same period this year.
Sgt. Chester Williams
“I think we must commend the Commissioner of Police for the hard work that he has been dong, supporting us, the officers on the street in doing our job. It makes us more comfortable out there doing our job. And likewise the minister of police, who also contributed financially to the aid of the police to see that the police get the necessary resources that we get the job done.”
The police continue to appeal to the general public to cooperate with them to help combat crime. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
A number of theories have been advanced for the decrease in Belize’s murder rate. They include the addition of more police patrols in high crime areas, increased employment during the recent election campaign and a general weariness on the part of Belize City gangs after several years of hyperactivity.
Meanwhile police have made an arrest in the murder of twenty-three year old Adrian Humes, who was shot and killed on the night of March fifth. Authorities say on Saturday they arrested and charged Trevor Trapp, a Belize City resident for the murder. On Monday, Trapp appeared in Magistrate’s Court and was remanded to Hattieville prison. Initially police were looking for one Raymond Gentle, better known as Killa, but say there was just not sufficient evidence to support any charges against him.
