In a series of coordinated anti-crime enforcement actions carried out across three districts of Belize, law enforcement agencies have seized multiple unregistered firearms and ammunition, leading to the arrest and criminal charging of nine individuals in separate incidents dated through early June 2026.
The first operation unfolded in Punta Gorda, where officers conducting routine anti-crime patrol spotted two men traveling on a motorcycle. When police signaled for the vehicle to stop, the driver accelerated away at high speed, prompting a law enforcement pursuit. During the chase, 23-year-old passenger Rozaun Vairez, a resident of Punta Gorda Town, fell from the motorcycle and attempted to escape on foot before officers quickly detained him. A search of Vairez’s backpack uncovered a loaded pistol fitted with a magazine holding 18 live rounds of ammunition. He now faces two formal charges: possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of unlicensed ammunition.
A second separate search operation in the Cayo District town of Unitedville led to an even larger group of charges. After executing a search warrant at a local residence, police recovered a .22 caliber pistol loaded with five live rounds. Five people who were present at the property – Calvin Garcia, Sydney Forbes, Kareem Garcia, Bernadine Myers, and Kevin Trapp – were all taken into custody and jointly charged in connection with the illegal weapon.
The third incident stems from a violent alleged assault reported on May 31, 2026, in Maskall Village. According to official police accounts, a male complainant told investigators he had entered a vehicle driven by 45-year-old Virgil Vasquez. When the complainant noticed an unsecured firearm inside the vehicle and tried to leave the car, Vasquez allegedly grabbed the weapon and pointed it directly at him. The complainant managed to run away from the scene without suffering physical injury. Officers later located and detained Vasquez, seizing a .40-caliber pistol from his possession. Vasquez now faces two charges: aggravated assault and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The string of seizures comes as Belizean law enforcement continues to prioritize cracking down on illegal gun trafficking and unregistered firearm possession, which remain key contributors to violent crime across the country. The series of interconnected operations across three geographically separate districts demonstrates the ongoing, cross-regional focus of local police on removing illegal weapons from communities before they can be used to harm civilians.