A sophisticated intelligence-led operation in Belmopan has culminated in the arrest and charging of four individuals on serious drug trafficking offenses. The targeted anti-narcotics raid, executed on February 18, 2026, at approximately 2:40 PM on Girasol Street in the Las Flores district, was a testament to advanced police coordination and strategic planning.
According to Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, who served as Staff Officer for the operation, law enforcement personnel successfully apprehended four suspects: Kenny Sosa, 23; Deandre Lara, 20; Paulino Ortiz, 35; and Milton Ortiz, 25. The initial charges stem from the discovery of illicit substances found in the open-air vicinity where the men were congregating in a yard. Police evidence collection documented 1.40 grams of suspected cocaine and 120 grams of cannabis at the scene.
In a significant development, Milton Ortiz faces an additional, separate charge of possession with intent to supply. This followed a search of a bag under his possession, which yielded two plastic packages containing a substantial quantity of suspected cocaine. The narcotics seized from his bag weighed a total of 37.5 grams.
The operation underscores a intensified crackdown on drug distribution networks within the region. The successful interdiction highlights the Belize Police Department’s evolving tactics, which increasingly rely on precise intelligence gathering and multi-unit collaboration to dismantle trafficking operations and curb the spread of controlled substances in local communities.