A sweeping, coordinated national crackdown on illegal firearms and drug trafficking in Belize has yielded a major haul of contraband, including a high-powered AR-15 rifle, as law enforcement ramps up efforts to curb rising violent crime across the country.
Between May 25 and May 29, 2026, specialized police units and local law enforcement formations carried out a series of precision targeted operations across multiple districts, launching synchronized raids on key locations linked to weapons trafficking and narcotics activity. The multi-day blitz, which brought together operational resources from across the country’s law enforcement ecosystem, resulted in the seizure of 10 illegal weapons, law enforcement officials confirmed.
ASP Stacy Smith, a Staff Officer with the Belize Police Department, detailed the seizure in an official briefing following the operations. The haul includes five 9-millimeter pistols, one .22 caliber pistol, three .38 caliber revolvers, and the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle – one of the most popular high-powered civilian firearms increasingly linked to violent crimes across North and Central America. All of the weapons were recovered during targeted search operations conducted in three high-priority locations: Belize City, Corozal, and the capital city of Belmopan.
This recent seizure pushes the total number of illegal weapons and rounds of ammunition taken off Belize’s streets since the start of 2026 to 116 firearms of varying calibers and 3,724 rounds of ammunition. To date, 109 people have been arrested on charges related to illegal firearm and ammunition possession, Smith confirmed.
Officials emphasized that the week-long operation is not a one-off enforcement action, but part of a sustained national initiative designed to reduce the prevalence of gun-related crime across Belize. Police have pledged to maintain increased visibility and aggressive enforcement nationwide, saying they will not retreat in the ongoing battle against the cross-border flow of illegal weapons and drug trafficking that has driven upward pressure on crime in recent years. The operation marks one of the largest single hauls of illegal weapons in recent months, and signals the police department’s growing commitment to disrupting criminal networks operating across the country.