Police made four gun and ammunition seizures leading up to and continuing over the Easter holiday. ASP Smith provided details:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"Police have formally arrested and jointly charged twenty one year old Tajah Roateau and twenty five year old Joshua Franklin, both of Hattieville Village, for the offense of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, kept firearm without a gun license, and kept ammunition without a gun license."
"These charges follow police's execution of a search warrant at a residence in Hattieville on Wednesday, 1st April, 2026, which led to the discovery of seven parcels of suspected cannabis weighing a total of 739 grams, along with a Glock 9mm pistol with a magazine containing 13 live rounds of 9mm ammunition, as well as two 9mm extended magazine, one of which contained 13 live rounds of 9mm ammunition and the other 17 live rounds of 9mm ammunition."
"`Police in Caye Caulker have formally arrested and charged 25-year-old Herman Ciego of Belize City for the offense of kept firearm without a gun license and kept ammunition without a gun license. These charges follow police's response to a disturbance at the corner of Avendida Mango and Estraya Street in Caye Caulker on Saturday, 4th March 2026 at approximately 10.40 p.m."
"The arresting officer reported that upon responding to the disturbance, his attention was drawn to a fleeing male person. This male person, later identified as Ciego, was pursued and detained. A search of the immediate area where Ciego fled led to the discovery of a 9mm Sigsar pistol, which contained 10 live rungs of 9mm ammunition."
"Also retrieved as a part of the investigation is a video footage which shows Ciego engaging in conduct which supports the arrest that was made. Corozal police have formally arrested and jointly charged 20-year-old Brandon Sankar and two male minors aged 16 and 17 respectively of Corozal Town for the offense of kept firearm without a gun license and kept ammunition without a gun license."
"These charges are as a consequence of police's execution of an operation on Narcie Street at around 12.15 a.m. on Monday, 6 April. The three male persons were intercepted during the course of this operation and in their midst was a 9mm pistol BGR9 Elite containing 17 live rounds of 9mm ammunition."
"Police have formally arrested and charged 29-year-old Ashton Gillett of Cotton Tree Village, Cayo District for the offense of kept firearm without a gun license and kept ammunition without a gun license."
"The arresting officer reported that whilst he was on duty at the Castleton track on Monday, 6 April around 1.30 p.m., his attention was drawn to a male person who aroused suspicion. Upon conducting a search of a backpack that was being carried by the male person, the officer discovered a 9mm Kairos band pistol with a magazine containing eight live rounds of 9mm ammunition."
Today in court, the man found with the gun at the Burrell Boom racetrack was remanded to prison. 26-year-old Ashton Gillett, a Farmer of Cotton Tree Village pleaded not guilty and told the court that he picked up the wrong Everest bag - one that happened to have a gun inside.
He was remanded until July 7th.
