M4 rifle missing from Belize Defense Force
While the grenades that have ended up in the wrong hands were stolen from the British forces, another high powered weapon now on the streets is a deadly M-4 carbine rifle that has gone missing from the Belize Defense Force. The rifle was stored in the B.D.F. guard room and it was only on Sunday that it was detected to be missing. The twenty-one soldiers on duty are all being questioned and the matter is now in the hands of the Police. News Five’s Jose Sanchez has a report.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The high powered weapon is of the same lineage of the M15 and M16 Automatic Rifle weapon. The primary difference is that the M4 can be shot in single or bursts of three. It is a smaller, lighter version, which is presently being used in close combat. According to Lieutenant Ganey Dortch, the discovery was made during a routine check of the armory on Sunday afternoon.
Lt. Col. Ganey Dortch, Chief of Staff, B.D.F.
“A hundred percent weapons check was carried out and, to our dismay, there was indeed an M-4 carbine that is missing. We immediately put action in place to see how best we can find any lead to what might have gone wrong.”
Jose Sanchez
“Where was this weapon stored and what system do you have in place that you realized that the weapon was missing?”
Lt. Col. Ganey Dortch
“Occasionally, as you know—for each soldier there’s a personal weapon and every soldier after completing their portion of the duties would hand it in at the guard room. These weapons were stored at the guard room. Upon receiving the weapons there was supposed to have been some kind of paper work or trail indicating which weapon came in with serial numbers. Unfortunately, when a check was carried out by the guard commander, it revealed a weapon, an M-4 carbine, was missing. That was when the agitant and myself got involved to see where or what could have possibly gone wrong for this weapon to be missing.”
Dortch said that while the B.D.F. examines the breach in procedures at Price Barracks, the Criminal Investigative Branch of the Police has been questioning the guards who were on duty.
Lt. Col. Ganey Dortch
“After two hours of our internal investigation, we decided that this was a criminal matter or this was something that needed the assistance of the police. As a result, we brought in the national Criminal Investigation Branch who then proceeded with their portion of the investigation as to speaking with the soldiers, finding possible leads, etcetera. To date we have several leads. We have had several suggestions as to what might have gone wrong and happen and as a result the CIB is presently proceeding with their portion of the investigation.”
Jose Sanchez
“Were there any ammunition missing?”
Lt. Col. Ganey Dortch
“Thankfully no ammunition is missing at this time and to summarize everything; to actually get a picture of what went wrong and what needs to be put in place, we are presently setting up a Court of Inquiry where a major has been identified and nominated to head that investigation, that court of inquiry.”
Jose Sanchez
“You mentioned suspects, is there a particular suspect that you’re looking at?”
Lt. Col. Ganey Dortch
“Well, as far as I am concerned, all twenty-one persons who were on duty at the time are suspects.”
Jose Sanchez
“The big concern on the streets are grenades. Are there any such explosives stored in your armory?”
Lt. Col. Ganey Dortch
“First and foremost we do not store ammunition with weapons. Our ammunition is stored at a secure area that is guarded twenty four hours.”
The M4 is still missing and fortunately all of the five point five-six millimeter shells use in the weapon, are accounted for. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
Lieutenant Dortch said that B.D.F. officers regularly carry out routine checks to make sure that all weapons are accounted for especially during the weekends. This is why it was possible for the B.D.F. to identify the missing weapon in such a short time.
