In a recent law enforcement operation in western Belize’s Cayo District, local police have taken a 37-year-old man into custody following the recovery of unlicensed ammunition, marking the latest in a string of similar weapons-related arrests in the region.
The targeted action, launched on intelligence gathered by law enforcement, was carried out at the Santa Elena Town residence of suspect Simon Bateman on Friday, July 17, 2026. During a authorized search of the property, officers uncovered four live nine-millimeter rounds in Bateman’s possession.
In an official statement released to local media, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the department, confirmed that investigators have formally charged Bateman with the offense of possession of ammunition without a valid firearms license.
“Bateman does not hold any official gun license that would allow him to legally keep this ammunition,” Smith explained in the statement, outlining the details of the operation. “Following the discovery of the unlicensed rounds during the search of his residence, we moved forward with immediate arrest and formal charging.”
As of July 20, the date of the original broadcast, police have not yet issued any confirmation on whether a accompanying firearm was recovered during the search of Bateman’s home.
This report is adapted from a transcript of a local evening television newscast originally published online. Original translations of Kriol language commentary included in the broadcast followed established standard spelling conventions.