In a targeted anti-crime initiative in Belize City’s Rio Bravo district, law enforcement officials have apprehended two young men for illegal firearm possession. The operation, conducted on January 9, 2026, resulted in the discovery of a concealed nine-millimeter Taurus pistol loaded with six live rounds of ammunition.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, who serves as Staff Officer, the arrest occurred when officers noticed suspicious behavior from two individuals on a residential veranda. “The arresting officer reported that his attention was drawn to two male persons who were on the veranda of a residence,” stated ASP Smith. “Upon approaching these male persons, he observed certain conduct and a search was conducted in that area.”
The subsequent inspection revealed the firearm partially concealed beneath a gas tank on the property. After forensic processing by crime scene technicians, the weapon was confirmed as an operational nine-millimeter Taurus pistol with ammunition.
Charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition are nineteen-year-old Kaleem Williams and eighteen-year-old Tayshaun Duran. Both suspects now face serious weapons charges under Belizean law, highlighting the ongoing efforts of the Gang Suppression Unit (GI3) to combat illicit weapons circulation in urban communities.
The seizure represents another success in the Belize Police Department’s continued campaign against armed criminal activity in high-risk neighborhoods, where unlicensed firearms remain a persistent challenge to public safety.