For the second time in two months - an M4 Carbine - which is a military grade assault weapon - is somewhere. out there in the hands of a criminal tonight. And the BDF is to blame for it.
The force's senior command has confirmed that while stationed on the periphery of the Xunantunich Observation Post, a soldier simply misplaced his weapon early on Sunday morning. And how did he do this? Well, the NCO who should have been manning his post says he stepped away from the area for a few hours to visit a friend nearby. Of course when he got back he discovered that his M4 Commando rifle had disappeared.
Today we consulted with Lt Col. Ricardo Leal on the matter who says that an investigation to locate the lost weapon has been launched.
Lt Ricardo Leal, Chief of Staff BDF
"So yesterday Sunday the 15th of October 2023, we received an information from the battalion commander's place, stationed there in camp Belisario that an M4 Commando riffle went missing in the Xunantunich area, Cayo district. Preliminary reports have indicated that a non commission officer which is what we call a Lance corporal left his place of duty in the wee hours of the morning and went to a supposedly friend, what he went to do there we are not sure but that is where he said that he was unable to recall where he left his weapon but bear in mind that area is a confined area therefore you should have asked permission before leaving. It is noted that these guys are confined and as I said they are supposed to ask for a proper relief in the event that they want to go somewhere else. An investigation has been launched and we are now trying to find out what transpired and how we can locate this weapon."
We note that this is the second weapon to have been misplaced in the Cayo district by the BDF, in exactly two months. Colonel Leal says that they are doing their best to crackdown and ensure that there's not a repeat.
Lt Ricardo Leal, Chief of Staff BDF
"Indeed yes it has been two months or less that a weapon has gone missing in the first week of October. So we are happy to say, and I applaud the effort of the guys that did the investigation."
"So I applaud the team that conducted the investigation and it led to a confession and we were also able to find this weapon. But this is in collaboration with the police department and the BDF."
"Based on what was brought out in the last investigation there are additional security measures that have been taken and it's just a matter now to enforce but we must understand that at all levels we must supervise our men that are on the field or the camp."
Reporter-
"Was the gun loaded when it went missing and if so how many rounds of ammunition did it have?"
Lt Ricardo Leal, Chief of Staff BDF
"So The preliminary reports as I mentioned yes the person had his weapon and he had his magazine fitted but I'm not sure at the moment how much ammunition was in the magazine."
We'll let you know if and when this weapon is recovered.
