BELMOPAN, Belize, May 12, CMC – Police Commissioner, Dr. Richard Rosado, says at least nine people have been detained since the government last weekend declared a state of emergency (SoE) in Southside and Northside Belize City and Certain Parts of the Belize District.
“On Friday May eight, 2026, after a careful security assessment and intelligence on the ground a request was made for the state of emergency which was subsequently declared for certain part of Belize City and Rural Belize District,” Rosado told a news conference.
“As a result of the state of emergency a total of nine individuals were transported a few minutes ago to the Kobe Foundation. I want to highlight that the decision was not made lightly for the state of emergency, but we believe it was absolutely necessary based on the intelligence we have gathered and on the ground assessment that indicated an imminent danger to life and property.
“Hence the recommendation was made, and it was subsequently declared. Our operational plan continues to be in effect. We have made some adjustment to our operational plan or enhanced our operational plan to improve the safety of the residents.”
The top said he wanted to reassure law abiding citizens that they have nothing to worry about in reference to the state of emergency “as the SOE is targeted and specific to certain individuals and does not affect the law abiding citizen in any way”.
The SoE followed several criminal situations in the country. On May 5, gunmen ambushed, shot and injured two well known people, Hubert Baptist and Eric Frazer along the Philip Goldson Highway.
The incident was followed by the killing of 29-year-old Jamal Samuels in what the police have described as a retaliatory hit.
Police say they are also investigating an incident where a 16-year-old walked into a bar and shot and killed 34-year-old mother of three.
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Stacy Smith, said that the case involving the 16-year-old is now before the courts.
“What I will say is that the information so far is not as definitive for me to say that there was mutual acknowledgement of a relationship between the two parties. However, that is an aspect being reviewed. I believe that what I was advised was that a damaged cellphone was recovered.
“On the last occasion I also shared that a firearm was discovered and we have since been able to establish that the firearm is the property of a license gun holder and the property of an individual who the child’s father worked for and it is believed that he gained access to that firearm by entering the room and somehow accessing the safe to enable him to remove the firearm. So additional charges in relation to the firearm offence are expected to also be brought against him,” she told reporters.
The SoE was announced even as the authorities implemented Statutory Instrument 50 of 2026 under people residing in several zones are banned from loitering, drinking in public and gathering in groups of three or more people.
In addition, minors within the emergency zones must be inside their homes by 8.00 pm (local time) and remain there until 6.00 am. Inside an emergency zone, police can search any home or property without a warrant. They can also stop and search vehicles, boats, or individuals if they suspect evidence of a crime.
A police officer can also, stop, detain, and search anyone. They can also confiscate any item they believe threatens public safety or order. Police are warning members of the public that if they interfere with an officer or use threatening or abusive language, they are committing an offense.
CMC/ah/ir/2026