Drug War in Bella Vista Has Police on Alert

A spike in violent crime across southern Belize has raised alarm among residents and police, with authorities pointing to an ongoing drug war between criminal groups operating in Bella Vista Village and nearby communities.

The latest incident tied to the feud was a mass shooting on New Year’s Eve in Independence Village. Police say the violence has escalated in recent weeks, ranging from home invasions and armed robberies to deadly shootings, as rival groups continue to clash.

Police Minister Oscar Mira told News 5 that additional police resources have been deployed and longer-term measures are underway. “In Bella Vista right now we have already deployed extra patrols,” Mira said.

“We have a new police station is going to be built. That work has already started and that police station is going to have all the units that are required of a fully functioning police station.”

Mira said the new station will house multiple specialised units to strengthen law enforcement operations in the area.

“We’re going to have GI three, we’re gonna have Special Branch. We going to have CIB, community based policing,” he said. “All the units that are in one of those bigger police stations will be held during, and we have also have more patrols along the Southern Highway as well.”

The minister said the focus will be on intelligence-driven policing to dismantle criminal networks behind the violence.

“So we are working in having more intelligence based operations happening and in the future we expect that we will get things under control in that area,” Mira said.