Seven Charged After Police Seize Drugs and Illegal Guns in Multiple Raids

A series of police operations carried out across the country has resulted in eight people facing charges ranging from drug trafficking to unlicensed firearm possession, with arrests made in Caye Caulker, Belize City and Belmopan.

The biggest drug haul came out of Belmopan, where the Gang Intelligence Investigation and Interdiction Unit executed an operation on May 20 at a city residence and walked away with 585 grams of suspected crack cocaine. Three people, 23-year-old Ayana Samuels, 19-year-old Taysha Young and 20-year-old Akeem Myvette, were jointly charged with possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. Myvette has since pleaded guilty and is to return on 25th May for sentencing.

In Caye Caulker, a search of a residence led to the discovery of 19 Ziploc bags of suspected cocaine weighing just over 16 grams, along with four bags of cannabis totalling just over 21 grams. Both 22-year-old Idan Pineda and a 15-year-old minor from the village were jointly charged with drug trafficking and possession. Pineda picked up an additional trafficking charge after a search of his person turned up four more bags of suspected cocaine.

On the firearms front, two Belize City men are now facing gun charges following separate Special Patrol Unit operations. Thirty-one-year-old Kendale Carcamo, of Ebony Street, had a nine-millimetre Beretta pistol fall from his waist during a search, loaded with 14 live rounds. A small amount of suspected cocaine was also found on him. Twenty-five-year-old Jermaine Anderson, of the Conchshell Bay area, was charged after a nine-millimetre Austria-brand pistol was found at his residence.

Police noted that firearm charges are pursued when evidence supports that a person had possession or custody of the weapon.