When property owner Jose Shoman came out, the Police showed him a warrant and they proceeded to conduct their search.

After five hours of searching throughout the home, the Police made their grand discovery. After all the intelligence, energy, effort and force expended on the Shoman residence raid, all they reportedly found were ammunition above the amount allowed by the law and a shotgun, which Police claim is unlicensed.

The Police proceeded to arrest Shoman and his wife who was also at home at the time. They were taken to the Queen Street Police Station where they were charged with Kept Greater Number of Ammunition than Specified in License, along with Kept Firearm without a License. In the evening they appeared before Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb-McKenzie who offered bail at $5,000 each and set the next court date for June 11th.

The Shomans pleaded not guilty to the charges. They are defended by Senior Counsel Edwin Flowers.

Reports to the BELIZE TIMES indicate that the Police believe the shot gun to be unlicensed because one digit on the weapon’s serial number differs from that which appears on the license documents.

While the prolonged and sensational search was being conducted, one reckless driver of a newly purchased Police vehicle crashed into an incoming car on the Northern Highway.

The movie-style scene showing massive police force and the crash made good headline stories for television news that evening.

It appears the new political directorate, who obviously authorized this raid, would rather expend its limited resources conducting extreme but senseless raids, while criminal activity congeals elsewhere.

If experience teaches any lesson, then the Police Department and its new Minister should re-examine its intelligence gathering for it has resulted in embarrassing results – first there is still the mysterious landing of a Colombian drug plane on the Northern Highway and the disappearance of its contents, and now the very strange and almost vain house raid.