Photo: Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Leal, Chief of Staff, BDF

by Charles Gladden

LADYVILLE, Belize District, Thurs. Aug. 17, 2023

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) has identified several persons of interest who may be responsible for taking an M4 Commando rifle that is missing from Camp Belizario in the Cayo District. Those persons are currently confined at the Price Barracks in Ladyville.

This week, reports surfaced that the high-powered rifle was missing from the grounds, with some reports suggesting that the rifle went missing sometime over the weekend.

On Thursday, August 17, Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Leal, Chief of Staff, Belize Defence Force, told reporters that investigations are still being conducted, and he noted that a sub-unit at the grounds was responsible for providing standby duties to guard the weapons for a period of 7 days.

He also mentioned that the weapons would normally be secured through a padlock and a key security system.

“What happens is that normally we would secure it in a different location. So, we are trying to ascertain if the weapon was taken from somebody that might have had a key or [if] somebody would have [done] something to breach the security in terms of picking the lock or whatever. But we don’t know at the moment, but we know that it’s taken from the actual safe that we have the weapons,” he said.

“… normally, security is security. There’s no 100% security … we do have people that are responsible or obligated to secure or take care of these weapons,” he added.

Lt. Col. Leal believes that the removal of the gun was carried out by persons who serve within the BDF.

Unconfirmed reports are suggesting that those high-powered rifles are of high street value and offers were made to soldiers for a large payout in return for such firearms,, and when local reporters asked Lt. Col. Leal about those reports, he replied, “That is speculation, and we don’t do speculation; we deal with the facts.”