Ministry of Home Affairs and Enterprise

PUBLIC NOTICE

Permitted Firearm Adaptations Not Requiring Additional License and Lifting of the Moratorium on New .223 Caliber Rifle Firearm License Applications

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 🇧🇿 🤝 🇹🇼

Today, the Minister of Home Affairs and Enterprise, Hon. Oscar Mira had the honour of hosting a courtesy visit from the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), His Excellency Amino C.Y. Chi.

The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to reaffirm our strong bilateral ties, discuss continued collaboration in areas of mutual interest and explore new opportunities to enhance citizen security. This engagement reaffirms the strong and growing relationship between our nations, built on cooperation, respect, and a shared vision for progress.

We value the enduring friendship between our nations and look forward to deepening cooperation for the benefit of our people.

Press Release

Multi-Agency Operation Results in Seizure of Major Drug Shipment, Plane and Arrests

A successful operation conducted by Belizean security forces on 10th April 2026 in the Neuland area of the Corozal District resulted in the seizure of five hundred fifty-one and thirty-nine hundredths kilograms (551.39 kilograms) of suspected co***ne, a Cessna aircraft, and the arrest of two Mexican nationals.

Our security forces tracked the aircraft as it departed from South America, using live feeds from partner nations. A three-phase operation was initiated, with intelligence units conducting surveillance of known and clandestine landing sites. This was followed by specialized units from the various agencies deploying to targeted locations across the country. At approximately 6:14 p.m. on 10th April, the aircraft landed in the Neuland area. Our law enforcement team moved in and seized the aircraft and its contents, detaining the two Mexican nationals believed to be the pilots, along with two Belizean nationals found in the area.

Please note that the Ministry has not made all information public at this time, as a parallel investigation has been launched to determine the major players involved in this foiled shipment, and in the ongoing transshipment of narcotics. Through strengthened law enforcement, enhanced local and regional cooperation, and comprehensive prevention strategies, we will continue to confront these threats head-on.

The operation was coordinated by the Joint Intelligence Operations Centre (JIOC), along with specialized units of the Belize Police Department, Belize Defence Force, Belize Coast Guard, and the Customs Department. Its success reaffirms the Government of Belize’s unwavering commitment to dismantling drug networks and organized crime.

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𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳

𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀.

Link to watch live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSdQ_6kUIyI

Today, the Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Enterprise and the Ministry of Economic Transformation, signed a contract with Coleman Construction Limited for the construction of a new police substation for the island of Caye Caulker. This facility and its equipment are intended to provide improved infrastructure to house the police officers assigned to maintain law and order in the vibrant island community, which continues to expand as an important tourism destination.

​Valued at approximately BZ$1.5 million, the substation forms part of the Belize Integral Security Programme, an initiative funded by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) to enhance citizen security by upgrading infrastructure, equipment, and capabilities for Belize's armed forces and the National Forensic Science Service.

The Government of Belize has received approximately 250,000 US Dollars in equipment and hardware from the Government of the United States of America as part of the new Biometric Data Sharing Partnership (BDSP).

Representatives of the Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Enterprise, and the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan signed the official documents. This represents an important milestone in strengthening border management and international cooperation.

Through this initiative, the Ministry of Immigration will strengthen surveillance at the country’s points of entry by incorporating fingerprint-based biometric technology. Once implemented, Belizean immigration officials will be able to conduct background checks on visitors by accessing the United States Department of Homeland Security’s identity database, one of the world’s largest biometric law enforcement datasets.

Wishing you a joyful Christmas filled with love, laughter, warmth, and cherished memories.

Happy holidays!

From Hon. Oscar Mira, and staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Enterprise.

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄
𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Enterprise hereby informs that the Corozal Free Zone will be opened Tuesday 23 December 2025 for Belizeans to enter and shop.

Shopping will be restricted to general goods at the retail level and quantities will not include any alcoholic beverages, spirits or ci******es. On entry back into the Belize Customs territory, items purchased in the zone will be subjected to all applicable import duties and taxes.

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