B.D.F. Loses Second High-profile Weapon in Two Months

Ricardo Leal

Twice in as many months, a high-powered weapon assigned to the Belize Defense Force has gone missing. The latest weapon, another M4 Commando rifle was reported missing on Sunday morning when the Battalion Commander at Camp Belizario reported that it was lost along the outer edges of the Xunantunich Observation Post. The B.D.F. spoke with the media and also issued a press release today, in which it stated that preliminarily, it had found out that a non-commissioned officer left his place of duty around dawn on Saturday to visit a friend’s house in the vicinity and was “unable to determine where he left his weapon,”. Now the B.D.F. says while it is asking the public to inform them if anyone knows its whereabouts, it has also begun an investigation. This afternoon, B.D.F Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Leal explained that the officer should have asked for relief before abandoning his post.

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

“Preliminary reports indicates that a non-commissioned officer, which is we call Lance Corporal left his place of duty in the wee hours of the morning, went to a supposed friend. What he went to do there, we are not sure, but that is where he said that he was unable to recall where he left his weapon. But bear in mind is that that area is a confined area, so therefore you should have asked permission before leaving. It is noted that these guys are confined and as I said, that they are supposed to ask, you know, for a proper relief in the event that they want to go somewhere else. Based on what was brought out in the last investigation, there are additional security measures that have been taken and it’s just a matter now to enforce. But we must understand that at all levels we must supervise, you know, our men that are in the field or the camp.”