That strategy paid off late last week when a GI‑3 team swept into the Frederick Alley area and uncovered two illegal firearms, leading to multiple weapons charges against three men. Here is more from Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith.

                    Stacy Smith

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Police have formerly arrested and jointly charged thirty-five-year-old Tashane Williams of Tibruce Street, twenty-five-year-old Ernest McNabb of Aloe Vera Street and forty-one-old Theodore Andrews of Fern Lane for the offense of kept firearm without a gun license, kept ammunition without a gun license. As well as kept prohibited firearm without a gun license and kept prohibited ammunition without a gun license.

The arrest of these three individuals follows an operation that was conducted by GI-3 personnel on Friday when these officers visited a property in the Frederick Alley area, which led to the discovery of two firearms, namely a point-thirty-eight revolver and a point-forty pistol along with ammunitions.”

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Three Belize City Men Charged for Prohibited Firearm first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

ASP Stacy Smith told reporters the incident occurred at around 2:27 p.m., when two men, one armed, entered the gas station and “with the use of threat demanded that the attendant handed over the proceeds of the day’s sale.” The attendant complied, and the suspects fled the scene.

Authorities quickly launched an investigation, reviewing CCTV footage and deploying a joint operational team and drones to track the suspects. About an hour later, police apprehended Rancharan and Villanueva.

Smith said a “.38 revolver with six live rounds” was found in Rancharan’s possession, while Villanueva had items believed to be the stolen cash. “It must be noted also that the firearm that was recovered is believed to be that which was stolen from a security guard in a robbery which occurred in December of 2025,” Smith added.

Rancharan was additionally charged with keeping a firearm without a license, possessing ammunition without a license, and possessing a firearm with the serial number removed. 

ASP Smith also pointed to the growing role of technology in police operations. “The use of an eye in the sky provides more coverage than a fleet of persons on the ground can,” she said, adding that drones are being used both to respond to and prevent crime.

The post Two Arrested in Corozal Gas Station Robbery first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Officers were called around 1:04 p.m. after a resort staff member found a 9mm Taurus pistol in one of the rooms. The gun was accompanied by a magazine containing ten rounds of ammunition.

Authorities continue to investigate how the firearm ended up at the property.

The post Firearm Found in Southern Belize Resort Room first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The post Police Intercept Fisherman with Unlicensed Firearm first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                         Stacy Smith

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Whilst the police officers were transporting the female to the Ladyville Police Station, the mobile came under fire and an operation was organized as a consequence of this, as there was reasons to believe that Mr. Garcia was the culprit in that incident. A joint operation team consisting of personnel from the GI-Three, the Anti-narcotics unit, as well as the Ladyville Quick response team, organized and mobilized to an area of interest. And through the use of a drone and conducting covert surveillance, they were able to apprehend Mr. Garcia sometime around six o’ clock a.m. and in his position was a nine-millimeter Smith and Wesson brand pistol, which contain fourteen live rounds of nine millimeter ammunition, as well as a bag which contain an additional sixty live rounds of nine millimeter ammunition. Also found on the person of Mr. Garcia was an AR-15 rifle, which contained thirty-seven live rounds of 5.56 ammunition. Garcia is known to police as he is currently out on bail, having been charged in July of 2025 for illicit trafficking of firearm after a barrel was discovered at the Santa Elena border, which contained a number of firearm and ammunition.”

Police say the early‑morning response to a reported domestic assault quickly turned dangerous in Ladyville, ending with a twenty‑nine‑year‑old American veteran already out on bail now in custody after officers came under fire and seized high‑powered weapons and ammunition.

The post US Military Vet Opens Fire at Police Mobile first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about more than what you have in the news. I have never met this gentleman. I have never spoken to him. But I am sure if he had come in and asked for an appointment to do a serious investment in Belize, I would have listened to him. But, what I have been told by the minister of police is that he had a license firearm from the united states and it seems that he did not know that you have to report it in Belize or he simply forgot. So what we did was confiscated the weapon and the bullets and we handed over to the U.S. Embassy and he was allowed to go home.”

The Prime Minister says the firearm was legally licensed in the U.S. but wasn’t declared upon arrival in Belize. Police confiscated the weapon and ammunition, handed them over to the U.S. Embassy, and the individual was allowed to return home.

The post Briceño Addresses Airport Firearm Incident first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Immigration

“So the ministry of immigration does not have purview over what you bring into the country. That is for customs and the police department. From what I am informed, based on media reports, he brought in the firearm into the country and was allowed to leave after that. The Immigration Department can only allow you to leave if you are cleared by the department. Clearly he was cleared by the department before he left.”

The Immigration Minister says his department simply clears travelers to leave once police and customs have done their part, adding that in this case, the businessman was cleared before departing the country.

The post Minister Responds to Airport Firearm Incident first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                  Stacy Smith

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“As it relates to the inquiry, I can confirm that indeed an American national was discovered with a firearm on Saturday at the airport. What I have been advised is that the American national businessman, when he had surrendered himself up to the scanning that occurs at the airport, the officers there discovered the firearm. He was placed in detention and he immediately stated that he was not aware that the firearm was there. It was a oversight on his part. Thorough check was done in relation to the background of this individual via Interpol. Communications were made with the US Embassy, where it was learned that he was not a person of interest in any situation. A decision was made to release him and confiscate the firearm by way of an exercise of a discretion. Now, given that by all indications I don’t believe someone would present themself to a scanning knowing that they have with them a firearm, the story that he provided was one that was feasible. He was cautioned and reprimanded and he was allowed to leave. What I will also say is that this individual came into the country on a private flight. Some, I think a day before, just a day before to conduct business.”

Shane Williams

“But does police have authority to exercise such discretion in terms of a lot that is definitely broken.”

ASP Stacy Smith

“There is room for the exercise of discretion. Police officers have been exercising discretion for quite some time.”

The post U.S. Traveler Briefly Detained for Firearm at PGIA; Police Justify Release first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The post Police Find Gun, Ammo in Abandoned Independence House first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                      Stacy Smith

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“The arresting officer reported that he was on anti-crime operation in the Rio Bravo area where his attention was drawn to two male persons who were on the veranda of a residence. Upon approaching these male persons. He observed certain conduct and a search was conducted in that area, which showed a nine millimeter pistol, which was partially covered by a gas tank that was on that veranda. The firearm was retrieved after having been processed by scenes of crime technicians, and it was learned to be a nine millimeter taros pistol and. Their in were six live rounds of nine millimeter ammunition.”

The post GI3 Busts Two Belize City Youths with Unlicensed Gun first appeared on Greater Belize Media.