In a milestone operation focused on eliminating public and military safety threats, the Belize Defence Force (BDF) has announced the successful disposal of 20.6 metric tons of aging, hazardous ammunition that had been deemed a critical risk due to decades of degradation. Carried out over five weeks between April 13 and May 22, 2026, the project brought together multiple national security agencies to address the longstanding danger posed by deteriorating military stockpiles.
Beyond the BDF’s lead coordination, personnel from the Belize Police Department and Belize Coast Guard joined the operation to support site security and operational logistics, reflecting a whole-of-government commitment to mitigating unexploded ordnance risks across the country. In total, crews safely destroyed 2,088 individual munitions that had become unstable after years of exposure to corrosion, water damage, and inadequate long-term storage conditions.
A key secondary outcome of the initiative is the upskilling of Belize’s national security personnel: 16 officers completed specialized, internationally certified training covering everything from identifying at-risk obsolete munitions to applying best-practice handling and controlled disposal protocols. This training is expected to build long-term domestic capacity, allowing Belize to conduct similar safety operations independently in the future.
The project also included critical infrastructure upgrades to prevent future safety hazards. Workers completed structural improvements to the BDF Logistic Support Brigade ammunition depot located in Ladyville, creating a more secure environment for the storage and management of the country’s remaining active military stockpiles.
International support was central to the operation’s success. The Program for Assistance in Conventional Weapons Destruction (PACAM) provided end-to-end support, contributing specialized technical expertise, necessary safety materials, and official certification that all disposal procedures aligned with global standards for conventional weapons destruction. Officials from the BDF noted that the collaboration has set a benchmark for future weapons management efforts in Belize, reducing the risk of accidental detonation and harm to nearby communities.