Belize Ministry of Defence Accused of Overpaying for Carbines

The Ministry of Defence of Belize is under scrutiny following allegations that it overpaid for 350 military-grade Colt M4 carbines acquired in June 2026. An investigation by Jules Vasquez claims the government paid Fort Point Security $3,000 US per unit, while similar models typically retail for just over $1,000 US.

The weapons were distributed to the Belize Defence Force and Belize Coast Guard. The CEO of Fort Point Security defended the transaction, asserting that the rifles provided value for money and that the supplier followed the Government of Belize tender process. However, evidence of the tender invitation has not been provided.

This controversy follows a previous procurement failure in 2023, when the government purchased 120 non-military-grade Taurus rifles at an inflated price of $5,000 each. Those rifles reportedly failed after 10,000 rounds. That 2023 acquisition remains under investigation by the Comptroller and Auditor General.