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A few months ago it was all the talk around town that a container full of weapons had been smuggled out of the customs compound.

And while rumors have their own currency and credibility, the real story was that pseudo-ephedrine containers were being smuggled out and then stolen.

But for those who believe - and probably with justification - that weapons routinely enter the country through the Port Of Belize - there is some satisfaction tonight.

This afternoon, the routine inspection of the contents of a container containing barrels sent from the United States turned up a nice stash of high powered firearms.

A Tec 9 equipped with a silencer, a 12 gauge shotgun, and a 22 revolver along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found wrapped inside a bundle of clothing.

Officer in charge of the Customs Investigations Ian Haylock told us how they made the discovery.

Ian Haylock, Customs Dept.

"All the goods were offloaded from the container whereby a detailed inspection was done by the officers from the enforcement section. And this was approximately about three o'clock, a barrel was opened whereby a detailed inspection was done and the items shown here were found inside that particular barrel. For example, one twelve gauge shotgun, a Tec 9 11mm automatic weapon, along with a silencer and an extended clip and a regular clip, a fire safe containing two boxes with a hundred rounds, a twenty-two calibre pistol was also found inside that safe along with a hundred and six rounds, a box containing 9mm bullets containing fifty rounds, and also inside the barrel, was some miscellaneous wearing apparel along with some assorted groceries."

Marion Ali
"What really got your attention to pin point this particular container?"

Ian Haylock
"This particular shipment was not pin pointed, Marion, this was an inspection hat would have been done on all the cargo that was in this container. But based on the meticulous nature of the officer and going into details in regards to the inspection, this was when these item was discovered in that particular barrel. These will be handed over to the A.D.U. whereby a continuous and ongoing investigation with obviously be pursued after that."

Marion Ali
"So it originated from where and the person from Corozal, is he an operator in the Free Zone?"

Ian Haylock
"No, he is not an operator in the Free Zone. These goods were not consigned to the Free Zone and the shipment originally originated from L.A. where it was trucked from L.A. to Houston whereby it was shipped from Houston to the Port of Belize compound."

As Haylock noted, the name is not being released but the barrel was addressed to someone in northern Belize. The address is a legitimate one. Police are following up, and we'll let you know if they have anything by tomorrow.

The container was shipped into Belize by freight forwarder Adian Gonzalez. He collects barrels from Belizeans in the United States and then brings them to Belize.