More guns missing–this time from BDF

Last week it was the police, this week it’s the Belize Defence Force that faces some tough questions on its weapons policy. According to a police report, the BDF is missing three M-16 rifles, which were supposed to be secured in the ammunition compound at Price Barracks in Ladyville. A number of soldiers have been questioned and authorities are in the process of narrowing down the list of potential suspects. Meanwhile, no arrests have yet been made in last Monday’s looting of the police arsenal in Belmopan. The two tech nines, four Sterling sub-machine guns, four M-16’s and single pump action shotgun are still missing. While it is not known whether any of the stolen weapons have been used in recent crimes, police are acting to head off any organised warfare as a result of last week’s gangland style hit on Clay Monsanto, which resulted in the death of two children. It is understood that Assistant Inspector of Police, Edward Broaster, who has been reassigned from Benque Viejo, has been meeting with warring Belize City street factions in an effort to defuse the tense situation.