BELIZE CITY, Fri. July 8, 2016–Several gang leaders and their affiliates were today scooped up by Southside police after the city recorded three murders in one day and a total of four murders in one week.

The anti-gang operation was activated at 3 a.m. and by 10 a.m. today, several individuals were in police detention.

According to ACP Chester Williams, “the purpose of this operation was to conduct searches at the homes of these known gang affiliates for firearms and drugs…”

He further revealed to Amandala that another purpose of this operation was to discuss the issues that had led to a surge in violence.

This afternoon, an intervention with these gang affiliates was held at the Racoon Street police station. However, Amandala was not allowed to take photos or record interviews, as the nature of the intervention was said to be confidential.

While ACP Williams continues to meet with gangs, the Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie, and his political bosses remain tightlipped.

Despite Williams’ public pronouncements regarding lack of both human and vehicular resources, the Minister of National Security, John Saldivar, and the chairman of the National Security Council, PM Dean Barrow, have so far not commented on the increasingly alarming sequence of violent murders in the city.