By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize City construction worker, arrested on April Fool’s Day and charged with keeping unlicensed ammunition, was freed in court on Tuesday after it was determined that the items police found were expended shell casings, not live rounds as defined under Belize law.
Allister Reyes, 26, of Belize City, appeared unrepresented before the Chief Magistrate in Court #1, where he was read a single charge of keeping unlicensed ammunition. The allegation stemmed from police finding what were initially described as two gold-colored 9mm rounds marked “S&B.”
However, during the arraignment, the Chief Magistrate asked the prosecutor to explain the legal definition of ammunition under Chapter 143 of the Firearms Act of the Laws of Belize. The court heard that ammunition must consist of a complete round or its components, including cartridge cases, primers, propellant powder, and projectiles intended for use in a firearm.
The prosecutor acknowledged that in Reyes’ case, the items recovered were already-fired shell casings, meaning they no longer constituted live ammunition under the Act. Based on that clarification, the Chief Magistrate dismissed the charge, ruling that expended shells are not an offence under the firearms law, and Reyes was immediately set free.
Police alleged that the discovery was made at about 5:56 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, on Regent Street, after officers on mobile patrol intercepted a silver vehicle resembling one that had reportedly eluded them days earlier.
According to police, officers stopped the vehicle in front of the DPP’s office on Regent Street, where Reyes identified himself as the driver. A search of his person reportedly turned up nothing illegal, but officers said they later found the two 9mm casings under the driver’s seat.
Reyes, who had been detained since April 1 — a total of six days, told the court he was first taken to the Raccoon Street Police Station and later moved to the Queen Street Police Station, where he was formally charged the following day.
The Chief Magistrate also questioned why Reyes had not been brought before the court sooner, especially before the long weekend. The prosecutor responded that the prosecution was not aware of the delay in his detention.
Before dismissing the matter, the Chief Magistrate explained that while police had valid grounds to stop and search Reyes because the vehicle reportedly had no licence plate, the charge itself could not stand because the law requires a complete live round for the offence of keeping unlicensed ammunition.
Reyes was advised not to make any further comments in court, and the matter was formally struck out without him being required to enter a plea.
The post Man is no April Fool: He was found with 2 expended shells in car but freed because empty shells do not count as ammunition appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize City construction worker, arrested on April Fool’s Day and charged with keeping unlicensed ammunition, was freed in court on Tuesday after it was determined that the items police found were expended shell casings, not live rounds as defined under Belize law. Allister Reyes, 26, of Belize City, appeared
The post Man is no April Fool: He was found with 2 expended shells in car but freed because empty shells do not count as ammunition appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
