A major internal investigation is underway at the Belize Police Department after more than $21,000 in case-related cash went missing from a locked evidence facility in the nation’s capital of Belmopan, leaving officials grappling with uncomfortable questions about security gaps and procedural failures within one of the country’s most guarded law enforcement spaces.
The missing funds were originally held as evidence connected to a court case dating back to 2023. Their unexplained disappearance was uncovered during a routine internal audit conducted earlier this week, and investigators have so far been unable to find any official documentation or chain-of-custody paper trail that can account for where the money went.
In an on-camera interview with local reporter Britney Gordon on Wednesday, Belize’s current Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira acknowledged the ongoing probe, but acknowledged he had not yet received updated details on the case’s progress. “The investigation is happening and I don’t have the recent updates as yet, but investigators are ensuring that we follow through and that we find out what happened,” Mira stated. “And whoever needs to be charged will be charged.”
When pressed on whether closed-circuit surveillance cameras were installed and operational in the evidence storage area when the funds went missing, Mira admitted he could not confirm basic security arrangements for the facility. The disappearance of the money occurred before Mira took office, leaving him without direct knowledge of pre-existing protocols. “I am not sure because this happened before my time. I’m not sure, but I know that we are learning from these mistakes, and we want to make sure that whenever there is any evidence, that the custody of this evidence is done the proper way,” Mira explained.
When asked what proper evidence management protocols should look like, the minister outlined the standard procedural requirement: an unbroken chain of custody documenting every transfer of evidence between personnel, from initial collection all the way to secure storage in the exhibit room.
Per official updates from the Belize Police Department, the force’s Professional Standards Branch has taken the lead on the inquiry. Investigators have already collected multiple witness statements from personnel as they work to trace the missing cash and identify who may be responsible for the breach.
This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television newscast originally published online. Original Kriol language remarks from on-air speakers were transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accuracy.