42 weapons, including M-16s, stolen from B.D.F.
The mean streets of Belize City may have more to add to its arsenal, which already includes fragment grenades stolen from security forces. A cache of high-powered weapons has been stolen from the Belize Defense Force headquarters at Price Barracks in Ladyville. It’s a huge and brazen heist, in fact one of the biggest at the B.D.F. that totaled forty-two weapons including M-16, M-4 carbines and Beretta brand pistols. Two rooms within the B.D.F.’s weapons storehouse at the original Price Barracks in Ladyville were burglarized sometime last week. The B.D.F. only conducts a weapons check of the particular storehouse once a week so the robbery was detected today. Was it an inside job? That’s what News Five asked the Deputy Commander of the B.D.F. at a press conference late this evening.
Col. Javier Castellanos, Deputy Commander, B.D.F.
Javier Castellanos
“Our initial investigations have revealed that a total of twenty-two M16 A1 rifles which are unserviceable, two M4 commander rifles also unserviceable, eleven nine millimeter berretta pistols which are serviceable and seven M4 carbine rifles which are serviceable. And they are reported missing from the weapons bulk store which gives a total of forty-two weapons being thirty-one of them rifles and eleven pistols. Of these, seven of the rifles are serviceable and eleven pistols are serviceable.”
Jose Sanchez
“The storage facility where the weapons are kept, my understanding is that that is something that is traditionally kept under 24hour guard. Can you please explain how the facility is guarded?”
Col. Javier Castellanos
“The facility lies within one of the sectors which are patrolled—a 24hour vigilance within the sector, but not exactly 24Hours to the facility itself.”
Jose Sanchez
“How was access gained? How long did it take you since your last check that these weapons are gone?”
Col. Javier Castellanos
“It is as a result of a routine check at the facility. The checks; physical check of the facility and its entirety and items inside this facility are conducted officially on a weekly basis.”
Allen Whylie, C.E.O., Ministry of Defense
Allen Whylie
“The visit to the building reveal that two of the locks are missing and the horse and staple was cut and so entry was gained into two of the five rooms. The weapons were kept within those rooms and they were under lock and key with a chain and the chain was also cut and the weapons were removed. So entry was made to the building forcibly; not by use of the key.”
Jose Sanchez
“With the evidence that you’ve explained and provided, are you willing to admit that clearly there has to be some form of collusion from within the compound, through the B.D.F. itself?”
Allen Whylie
“Well it’s difficult for me to say at this preliminary stage. It’s obvious that any soldier, any ex-soldier would know that weapons are stored at that facility. So I cannot say at this point in time that there had to be collusions within the B.D.F.”
Jose Sanchez
“Are the patrols always conducted at the same time?”
Col. Javier Castellanos
“The patrols conducted are staggered; it’s not a routine set format. It is a sector which is patrolled, but is not a particular route they would take in that specific area.”
Jose Sanchez
“So the thieves would have to be someone or some people that know what the patrols would have been to escape with the weapons?”
Col. Javier Castellanos
“May be a possibility.”
To demystify the military jargon, serviceable weapons are weapons that are operable and can be fired; unserviceable weapons according to the deputy commander, cannot fire.
Is this true? somebody please tell me this is a joke!
This is most certainly an inside job and I hope that those soldiers that were on patrol are being detained and questioned and tortured until they give up their accomplices. Now no one is safe in Belize maybe the are planning on attacking the tourist busses to cause major issues for the country in these already challenging economic times, I hope these buses are given escorts out of Belize. Who they should be going after are these dirty ass politicians that are causing the problems in Belize but of course that won’t happen since the criminals work for them. Remember My Legacy B 4 My People.
Excuse the pun, but this is why all efforts at reassuring the public of safety and order keep getting shot in the foot. We all need to do a better job at this.
Belize’s National Security is at risk.My question to the Ministry of National Security is,Why isn’t there any type of surveillance at this facility?This is definately inside work.
Wow wow wow what a useless gov. And pm and again where is the minister of defense come on channel5 you are not doing your job why is the minister of defense not being interviewed about these happenings in the military this is his ministry as if we don’t have enough corruption in this gov. Now m16 are being stolen and will be used in more murders I wonder how many more belizeans will be murdered this year maybe it will be you or your family or friend or brother or sister wake up belizeans we need to march on this incompetent corrupt gov. And pm and we have a minister of defense that is useless as tits on a bull.
This is prove that the criminal element is in control of the Belizean people’s destiny.
Weekly Checks!!!!!!!! Incompetence there should be a daily check even a 12 hourly check. There shoud be so many gates and fences before getting to the actual building. How can 42 weapons be carried from an armoury without any one seeing? The armoury should have something like 6 fences around it and six gates so that no one can make a quick escape. they should invest in a biometric gate system so that any one who eners the armoury will require a finger print scan or retina scan. That way you know who was there at any particular time. The easier thing is to have a senior officer prepare a document with a manifest of what items are being taken out of the camp every time a BDF vehicle leaves the barracks. Have the guards at the gate check this manifest and see whether what is being carried in the vehicle matches what is actually in the vehicle. In addition they should have a police check point a few yards from the barracks gate which checks to see if the BDF guards have not allowed unauthorised cargo to leave the base. Simple things like this could make a difference. I suggest that they have senior police officers at the check point which I porpose because differnt branches of the security services do not like it when one brach seems to invade into their realm. In any other country the President would summon the commander of the base and give him a dis honourable discharge. His immediate subordinates would suffer a similar fate and the actual officers responsible for the armoury would be investigated and charged or simply fired with no pension.
Weekly Checks!!!!!!!! Incompetence there should be a daily check even a 12 hourly check. There shoud be so many gates and fences before getting to the actual building. How can 42 weapons be carried from an armoury without any one seeing? The armoury should have something like 6 fences around it and six gates so that no one can make a quick escape. they should invest in a biometric gate system so that any one who eners the armoury will require a finger print scan or retina scan. That way you know who was there at any particular time. The easier thing is to have a senior officer prepare a document with a manifest of what items are being taken out of the camp every time a BDF vehicle leaves the barracks. Have the guards at the gate check this manifest and see whether what is being carried in the vehicle matches what is actually in the vehicle. In addition they should have a police check point a few yards from the barracks gate which checks to see if the BDF guards have not allowed unauthorised cargo to leave the base. Simple things like this could make a difference. I suggest that they have senior police officers at the check point which I porpose because differnt branches of the security services do not like it when one brach seems to invade into their realm. In any other country the President would summon the commander of the base and give him a dis honourable discharge. His immediate subordinates would suffer a similar fate and the actual officers responsible for the armoury would be investigated and charged or simply fired with no pension…..ONLY IN BELIZE CAN THE COAST GUARD HAVE THEIR BOAT STOLEN FROM THEIR YARD AND ONLY BELIZE WHERE GUNS CAN DISAPPEAR FROM A MILLITARY BASE WITH NO TRACE. ONLY IN BELIZE WHERE THERE ARE NO SNIPERS AND GENERAL INFANTRY GUARDING AN ARMOURY…BELIZE BWAI
INCOMPETENCE!!!! IT IS SO FRUSTRATING TO HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN HOW BELIZE IS PACKED WITH INCOMPETENT FOLKS. FROM THE LEADER DOWN TO THE GARBAGE COLLECTOR. AND THE JOKE IS…….MOST PEOPLE IN BELIZE REALLY DO NOT CARE. I GUESS THE SUN HAS FRIED THEIR BRAINS.
INCOMPETENCE!!!! IT IS SO FRUSTRATING TO HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN HOW BELIZE IS PACKED WITH INCOMPETENT FOLKS. FROM THE LEADER DOWN TO THE GARBAGE COLLECTOR. AND THE JOKE IS…….MOST PEOPLE IN BELIZE REALLY DO NOT CARE. I GUESS THE SUN HAS FRIED THEIR BRAINS.
speechless.
If the BDF cannot protect their armory how can we expect them to protect our borders, us from drug cartels or from an insurgent ? That amount of weapons is enough to begin an insurgency.
Wait a minute boat stolen from coast guards now 42 weapons from BDF hmm we have some ill security forces. what will happen next police going to jail wait that happens a lot.
Shame on You BDF. The people responsible for monitoring and contolling that facility should be held liable. That is utter nonsense.
Fragmentation grenades stolen from BATSUB (and used in the streets of Belize)???High powered automatic weapons stolen from BDF(to rob and kill our citizens.. some of them children caught in the crossfire or sleeping at home) ??? High speed boat stolen from coast guard (to bring in more drugs to Belize)??
LET’S NOT PANIC ABOUT THAT…. :Our govnt is doing much to curb crime by:
a) illegalizing dark tints in vehicles (soon illegalizing it on bicycles)
b) mandatory registration of cell phones (soon filtering radio waves from hand held radios)
c) harassing LICENSED gun holders (soon mandatory registration for criminals with
unlicensed firearms)
d) and MANY MORE LAME DUCK pieces of legislation….
SO BELIZE FEEL SAFE…. OUR GOVNT IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO KEEP US SAFE
FINAL NOTE… let me do the maths.. hmmm … $30,000 as reward for information to recover the stolen arsenal?? yeah.. STILL FAR MORE CHEAPER THAN keeping a guard 24/7 PREVENTING IT from being stolen in the first place….GOOD WHEN WE HAVE ECONOMISTS AND LAWYERS RUNNING OUR COUNTRY!!!
Shame on the BDF and also on the Coast Gaurd who also had one of their vessels stolen; what can you expect from them on a emergency if they cannot even take care of their assets in peace time?? Everything is taken for granted and security is lax; as if criminals are afraid of them at just seing their uniform. The security force has been proven wrong over and over and still yet nothing improves, ie cmeras, better fences, permanent precence at high value assets etc. What will happen next, bombs will be stolen???
what a shame, if they cannot protect their own premesis how the hell will they protect our country and its people….
If our maritine and infantry forces cannot guard an arsenal within their own compound, how in the world can we expect them to guard our high seas and our land borders. The only institution that I thought was not yet corrupted is no more. The maritine vessel and that cache of weapons stolen was an inside job or, with inside help. Any-way, our security forces are way in to their forehead. Once our security institution crumbles, and it has, we have no guarantee that we as an independent nation and as a people can survive. Our very identity is now threatened. We are on our way to become an occupied country; a colony of a foreign nation. The 23 Guatemalan department. Some may think these are exaggerations to them I say, study the history of nations who are now buried in the sand.
Let’s not put blame on the BDF,the PM is the one to blame ,he’s the one that need to provide the logistics for these guys to be more efficient.More money need to be spent on National security.Instead of wasting time on tint,this incompitent PM could have bought the BDF some surveillance camera.This man need to resign he’s not capable of leading.
All I can say is God save Belize. A building that houses that kind of amunition should have securit system, with only those who need to know having knowledge that a system is installed. The very arm of security charged with protecting the country is unable to protect their own arms. What a mess.
Wake up people demand change.
Incompetence?
Yes, because if they (I MEAN THE BDF THEMSELVES) knew how to sell the fire arms, they could have sold it and not get it be seen as missing.INCOMPETENCE ,YES.
what does B.D.F. stand for ?
This is NOT GOOD …..AND THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT IS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION.
LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE IS GETTING READY FOR A WAR….for which we the average Belizean will pay.
INSIDE JOB?????????????
THIS IS REALLY PATHETIC TO HEAR THAT THE BDF WE’RE VICTIMS OF A ROBBERY BUT NOT A REGULAR ONE BUT A ARMORY CASE. JEEZ WHERE IS OUR JEWEL HEADING TO, MAYBE THIS IS A START OF SOME KIND OF REVOLUTION BEING STARTED AND WE WERE NOT INVITED. THIS IS SERIOUS ISSUES THAT THE PM SHOULD CONSIDER THAN WASTING TIME WITH THE 9TH AMENDMENT.
I think we are missing the BIG picture here. GUNS STOLEN, BOAT STOLEN and taken down south. these criminals are gearing up for something BIG. What? When? Where?
You would think that being there is high powered weapons stored in a warehouse, there would be security cameras in & around the compound, but I guess these numb-skulls brains didn’t think that far. ITS TRUE…YOU JUST CAN’T CURE STUPID.
We like to take things lightly Belizeans but serious things are happening in our country. All politicians and security forces are just corrupt, and misleading our peaceful country. Belizeans its time for us to open our eyes, our so called leaders try to act as if they are looking at issues affecting our country when in reality we have bigger issues not looked at. Stolen weapons from BDF, Stolen Maritine Vessel,Rapes, Murders and so much more to mention……… and at the end noting is done. What a shame that our so called leaders and security forces are involved. Looked at the drug plane landed some couple of months ago so much was said and nothing was done, you don’t even hear about it again. Now i ask myself what will happen next?????????????
Now this is some funny stuff!!! Automatic weapons in the streets of Belize. Now did they get ammo with it as well? Not that it is hard to get the ammo for those weapons but this is awesome. I love belize. the next haiti!
Lawd a mercy! A warfare is about to commence on our little jewel with all those stolen ammunition!
Gosh what can we say Belize and all the world is in crisis. Like some of the comments here are true. If this was a high profile storage why didnt they have proper security and surviellance. Now we have to just to pray and make this criminals dont get by doing their evilness. In GOD we trust…
This simple it shows that there is no leadership in the country there is no leader in fact perhaps the leadership are the very ones involved in these robberies. What a no-good useless pm and gov. Where is perdomooooooooooooooppoooooooooo is he hiding.
From the coast guard to the military….. Woh, just unbelievable!!! we are 30 years old in this modern society. When are we going to start taking pride in our country? I think they have to stress Civics in school. People are not doing their jobs, they are mearly looking for a pay check… Again it’s the god of this world, money! that’s all that matter. I don’t think it is incompetence, they know, it is not that difficult, they just don’t care….Again, God shake us out of this complacency.
Its too much of a coincidence, this is part of a larger drug project that was interupted. Guns going missing and boats stolen? Watch out for a plane landing on a highway or mennonite field soon. Ttheres too much drugs passing through and gov needs to step up to the plate, press Washington after all that black listing and posts on their media, they need to step in and assist us so we stop transhipping drugs that they are consuming. Our young belizeans are the ones taking the hits and dying everyday, they are the casualty of a liberated drug addicted America. Neither the gov and business people are suffering, they are getting richer throug blood money. If PM thruly cares about his belize City residents he will get drastic.
Can they be any more stupid?
Let me guess! They did not have any alarms or any other device to detect a breakin!
As was pointed out above: they cannot protect their weapons (their tools) and they are the ones protectimng us! I feel a lot safer now!
SHAME, SHAME BDF & Coast Guard disgrace!
My God, we are in truly sad shape when the people in charge of our national security can’t even protect their own armoury warehouse inside the camp, God help us!
What kind of punishment will be enforced on the commanders and guards on duty? In other countries punishment is severe wheh they are missing weapons inventory, 30 years in prison or even worst. Where are the surveillance camera videos? Even gas stations, grocery shops etc. all have video now! Armoury check should be on every guard shift not only once a week, Total Incompetence from the top!
TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE! We are the laughing stock of the world! What’s next they may steal their pants?
Good one Roska, Lets not forget the Ammendment to the Constitution 9, that will enshrine your public utilities. Not 8th that the text death threat abolished (by the way registering your cell phones will lead to who threatened or will threaten our honorable PM in the future), remember the 9, this is of utmost importance to the country!
Oh and the licensing for fishing, you need to have a license to fish in Belize waters now, not to drive boats wee hours of the morning. Our fish is more important. While offshore drilling will push forward full speed! We are really on the right track, Vision and Leadership, Imagine the possibilites!
Yeah and the quest to block industrial actions by the unions by passing the Essential services act and employees working there not being able to strike due to it being considered essential. This is of utmost importance to Belize!
Then the zoning of the buses, cause hey we needed to solve the crisis in the transportation industry, cause commuters were experiencing chaos and pandemonium and needed saving since every week hundreds of Bzns were dying in crashes due to racing. We need to control and restructure the way efficient bus companies run!
The list goes on, this is frustrating!
P.M. need to take control of this, this only mean’s more voilence in Belize, well i will keep my ass in Los Angeles, i love my life, and i want to see my kids grow up.
WE ARE REALLY REALLY NOW BECOMING A LAUGHING STOCK.
This is not the first time weapons go missing from the BDF. I was a former BDF Officer and there were a number of incidents like this while I was in service. The entire force needs to be reformed but it won’t be done as long as the requirements for senior position are no greater than a 6th Form Education.
In other countries, the weapon cache is under 24/7 surveillance, with men posted at the spot. It is NEVER left alone, only here in Belize this happens. I remember having to count those weapons at least 3x a day when I was serving abroad. And here they only do it ONCE A WEEK. It is a JOKE. It is a bunch of boy scouts that we have here instead of a professional military.
What the hell is wrong with these people. I am loss for words, for the very first time.
Is anyone surprised? Look at all the crumbling infrastructure on any BDF base, look at the faces on the soldiers. None of the senior leaders care and this carelessness filters down to all levels! This level of apathy in the BDF and Coast Guard leadership is frightening. If General Tapia has any honour, he should resign immediately in utter shame. Commander Bennett should apologize to the nation for lying. Incompetence! Welcome, Mexican cartels!
You must be Joking! horse and staple with padlocks for military weapons? Only in Belize! Wake up Security Minister! Stop worrying about the lots of money u making and do what u are placed there to do!
” laid back….mind on the and money on their mind” corrupt, impotent, greedy and missing the more important things in our community. thats the gov. we server and we put there….i wish that i can turn back the hands of time…..
whats next? i urge the culprits to go after the thieves and corrupt money ministers, steal their guns and money and all the stuff they got from poor people money. dont steal from our poor ole lazy BDF. its a shame on them – i bet they all slept thru it all…they are too laid back….look how big and fat most soldiers and policemen….corrupt to the bone…eat drink and sleep on the expense of hard working belizeans.
PEOPLE WE LETS ALL STOP PAYING TAXES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BEING PUT TO PROPER USE.
and now they talking about beefing up security. “practice after race”
if they cannot guard a small room with valuables how can they protect us and our borders….
God forbid its not the Zetas already testing our high security point……i guess the next thing will be the central bank….but they shud got to them thiefing ministers house first….
” laid back….mind on the and money on their mind” corrupt, impotent, greedy and missing the more important things in our community. thats the gov. we server and we put there….i wish that i can turn back the hands of time…..
whats next? i urge the culprits to go after the thieves and corrupt money ministers, steal their guns and money and all the stuff they got from poor people money. dont steal from our poor ole lazy BDF. its a shame on them – i bet they all slept thru it all…they are too laid back….look how big and fat most soldiers and policemen….corrupt to the bone…eat drink and sleep on the expense of hard working belizeans.
It’s time Belize for a new government to come to life.. Lets keep our hope for this new elections.. Let not let gangs take control of our country like they have other countries.. Definitely nothing will change until we get some real leaders.. We need REAL LEADERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is an act of war against the gob, and should be treated as such; hence requiring those ( i.e. the leaders) who are responsible for securing the country, to find themselves in the situation room. belize city needs surveillance on every major street corner, on every high valued building and most of all in every gob facility. we are living in a different e ra where money and drugs are causing our people to commit some of the most heinous crimes. therefore our security professionals needs to be more proactive and anticipate these behaviour trends. we need an indepent media to ask the tough questions, and would hold everyone’s feet to the fire who are in a position of influence that are susceptible to bribes. there are so many stories to be gotten because there are so much corruption happening in belize.
FACTS;
CUSTOMS DPT= PSEUDOEPHEDRINE shipment and no one held accountable!
COAST GUARD= GO FAST BOAT LOANED TO DRUG DEALERS, NOT STOLEN!!
BDF= GRENADES & HIGH POWERED GUNS TAKEN!
IMMIGRATION= 100 PASSPORT STOLEN, OHHH WE DIDN’T 4GET!!! under zetina
POLICE= OHH LAAD I DON’T KNOW WHERE 2 START!!! POLICE TAKE COCAINE AND DON’T ARREST OR HAND IT IN!
ALL OUR SECURITY AGENCIES R INVOLVED IN CURRUPTION! I THINK THE COST OF LIVING IS VERY HIGH AND WE NEED 2 PAY THESE GUYS MORE 2 REDUCE TEMPTATION!!!
belize laws are doing nothing to curb bad behaviour, instead they are making people feel that they are the untouchables, hence the crime situation is only going to get worst. why america w/ all it’s flaws is consider to be one of the most safest countries in the world, is because they make an example out of people who commit crimes so that others won’t follow in their footsteps. it’s that fundamental people not rocket science.
Well, It seems like someone is gathering guns and ammo.. so that when the 9th Amendment becomes law… Guess what??? WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!