What began as a procurement scandal rooted in questionable food supply contracts at Belize’s Ministry of Defense has expanded into an investigation of military weapons purchases, with new allegations of improper bidding and off-book payment practices emerging.
The controversy centers on a 2026 acquisition of 120 Taurus brand rifles by the Belize Defense Force (BDF), arranged before current Ministry of Defense Chief Executive Officer Francis Usher assumed his post. In an interview with local outlet News Five, Usher confirmed the purchase went forward but declined to share key details, including the identity of the supplier and specifics of how the transaction was funded. Usher cited an ongoing government audit covering the time period of the rifle acquisition as the reason for withholding information.
Unconfirmed but credible sources familiar with the deal have told News Five that the selected supplier received preferential treatment tied to political connections, rather than winning the contract through a fair, competitive bidding process. Additional scrutiny falls on the payment structure of the deal: sources indicate the total cost was split into multiple transactions each valued under the $10,000 reporting threshold — the exact same problematic practice that is currently under investigation in the food procurement portion of the scandal. Usher told reporters he has not been able to access the original financial records for the rifle purchase to confirm or deny these claims.
The total estimated cost of the acquisition also raises new questions. A standard military-grade Taurus rifle typically retails for between $1,500 and $2,000 USD, meaning the 120-rifle purchase would carry a total price tag well into six figures, far above the $10,000 threshold that was split through multiple transactions.
On the question of operational suitability, Usher noted that the Taurus rifles are considered acceptable for military use, but added that BDF and the Belize Coast Guard have a long-standing preference for Colt rifles, which have a well-documented reliable track record for the nation’s security forces. In 2025, the Ministry of Defense completed a transparent procurement of 350 Colt rifles through a formal competitive bidding process, where Fort Point Security was selected as the winning vendor. Usher outlined that the 2025 Colt contract followed standard protocol, requiring a 50% down payment upfront and the remaining 50% balance due upon delivery, a transaction that has since been fully completed with no irregularities reported. Each Colt rifle was acquired for approximately $6,000 USD under that formal contract.
As public attention remains focused on the initial food supply corruption probe, the emerging questions around the Taurus rifle purchase have left many asking whether the problematic procurement practices are isolated to food contracts, or represent a broader pattern of corruption extending to core equipment acquisitions for Belize’s national security forces.