One new feature of the press briefings under Commissioner Chester Williams is that the Commander of Operations also gives the press a quick briefing about the success of recent operations. Today, Senior Superintendent Vidal spoke about 13 gun seizures in a week - more than half of them in Belize City - which led us to ask a provocative question:..
Sr. Supt. Marco Vidal
"However, a break down shows that eight of these firearms were seized in Belize City, comprising of three 9mm pistols, two .380 pistols, two .38 revolvers, one .223 rifle. Three persons were arrested and charged for kept unlicensed firearm and four of these firearms were deposited as found property in Belize City."
Jules Vasquez- Reporter
"But more than 50% are found property then."
Sr. Supt. Marco Vidal
"Pretty much."
Jules Vasquez
"Are these found properties indeed not actually found properties, but weapons which are deposited in an area so that persons who are caught, for example, with marijuana, trade the discovery of a weapon for their freedom?"
Sr. Supt. Marco Vidal
"Right, so this may very well be the situation however, I can say that in this operation, it was all over this week, that is not the case. We know that some police officers consider themselves businessmen and they negotiate so that charges are not levied on certain persons. However, these were operations that were intelligence led operations. If you observe, most of the operations were combined teams that conducted the operations."
Jules Vasquez
"And that gives some level of transparency?"
Sr. Supt. Marco Vidal
"It should."
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