Confession Made Regarding First Gun that Went Missing; No Identity Given

Ricardo Leal

As we reported, this is the second B.D.F. weapon to go missing in only two months. In August, an M4 rifle was also reported missing from Camp Belizario and was discovered the following week in an abandoned lot in the Jane Usher Boulevard area of Belize City. Leal said that in that case, the matter is still being dealt with, and he commended the officers who were able to recover the weapon.

Lt. Col., Ricardo Leal, Chief of Staff, .B.D.F.

“I applaud the team that conducted the investigation and it led to a confession and we were also able to find this weapon. But this is in collaboration with the police department and the BDF. The duty of the Court of Inquiry on the investigation is to find out what happened and therefore, then thereafter they make recommendations to the Commander of the B.D.F. The Commander of the B.D.F now has the onus to say what level of disciplinary measures will be taken.

The investigation had a confession, but I cannot divulge on that information until when CBF makes his you know, his judgment. But in the meantime, we are asking if anyone knows or hear anything concerning this missing weapon to kindly contact the Belize Police Department or the Belize Defense Force.”

With regard to this latest missing weapon, Leal said he couldn’t say whether the gun is still in Belize or has been smuggled outside of Belize. A search in the vicinity of the Northern border on Sunday after they had gotten tips of it being there, yielded nothing.