Belize's Crime Crisis

Belize has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world. The country also experiences other violent crimes, including armed robbery, shootings, domestic abuse, and sexual assault. In 2022, the country reported 12 fewer homicides than in 2021, but major crimes increased by 17.2% in the same period. The US State Department's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) has advised travellers to exercise increased caution when visiting Belize.

Crime against tourists

While tourists are not usually the targets of gang violence in Belize, anyone near an incident could be affected. Gang-related violence occurs most frequently in Belize City, particularly in the area south of Haulover Creek (known as Southside). In 2018, the Belize government declared a state of emergency in two south-side communities of Belize City due to increased crime levels, with plans to increase police presence and power.

Tourists should also be aware of the risk of armed criminals in the remote forested areas of Belize, particularly near the border with Guatemala and close to tourist sites. However, this area is patrolled by the Belize Defence Force, and there have been no reported incidents involving tourists.

In recent years, there has been an increase in violent crimes against tourists and expats in Belize. Murders of foreign nationals have increased, with several high-profile cases of foreigners being murdered since 2016. While these crimes are not typically targeted at tourists, it is advised to always be aware of your surroundings and the people you meet.

Overall, while Belize has a high crime rate, tourists can take precautions to reduce their risk of being targeted. This includes being vigilant and aware of your surroundings, keeping your money and valuables secure, and following local authorities' advice.

Gang-related crime

Belize has a remarkably high homicide rate, with gang-related violence occurring most frequently in Belize City, particularly in the area south of Haulover Creek, known as Southside. The primary sources of violence in the country are domestic gangs that operate mainly in Belize City and engage in local drug trafficking and robberies. However, as Belize's role in the international drug trade has grown, Central American gangs and Mexican drug trafficking groups have also established a presence.

More than 40 street gangs have been identified in Belize City, with prominent gangs controlling various criminal markets, including the distribution of cannabis and cocaine, contributing to a significant degree of violence, including that perpetrated using firearms and grenades. Gang violence has dramatically increased with increased gang access to guns, and the risk factors for gang involvement have broadened and deepened, expanding the pool of youth vulnerable to gang recruitment.

Belize's geographical position makes it an ideal passage for human trafficking throughout Central America. Victims are recruited and exploited both in the country and abroad, with females, children, and migrants from Central America, Mexico, and Asia being the most at-risk groups. Migrants are exploited in agriculture, domestic work, and retail work, while women and children are exposed to sex trafficking.

Belize also serves as a transit point for illicit arms trafficking to Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. The local demand for guns is largely driven by foreign demand, and evidence suggests that Mexico-bound weapons from the US are trafficked through Belize to avoid strict measures along the US-Mexico border. While the participation of Belizean groups in the international arms trafficking market appears limited, domestic actors have been known to smuggle arms into Mexico.

In addition to arms and drug trafficking, Belize is also a transit point for heroin, cocaine, and synthetic drugs bound for the US and Mexico. Mexican cartels control these drug flows and hire locals to smuggle the drugs across the border. Belizean gangs have also reportedly begun fighting over the movement of drugs, leading to a series of drug-related homicides on land and at sea.

Violent crime

Belize has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world. In 2022, the country's homicide rate reached 25.6 homicides per 100,000 people, which is significantly higher than the regional average of 18.3 homicides per 100,000 people. While the number of murders decreased from 125 in 2021 to 113 in 2022, other major crimes, including violent crimes, increased.

Belize City, the former capital, is considered the most dangerous place in the country. Gang conflicts and shootings are almost a daily occurrence in the city, and it is also where most crimes, including violent crimes such as assault, take place. The area south of the Haulover Creek, known as Southside, is particularly notorious for gang-related violence. However, tourists are not usually the targets of gang violence. Nevertheless, anyone near an incident could be affected, and tourists are vulnerable to theft of cash, credit cards, phones, and other personal belongings.

The increase in violent crimes in Belize is partly attributed to the growing disparity between the rich and the poor. Additionally, border tensions with neighbouring Guatemala and increased drug and human trafficking into Mexico via Belize have contributed to the country's high ranking in worldwide violence.

To address the issue of violent crime, the Belizean government has implemented various measures. In 2018, a state of emergency was declared in two South-side communities of Belize City, with plans to increase police presence and authority. The country has also partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to strengthen government capacities to formulate evidence-based and people-centred public policies on citizen security.

Drug trafficking

Belize is struggling with an onslaught of drug trafficking, a common issue for many Latin American countries. Its northern border with Mexico, western border with Guatemala, and access to the Gulf and several Caribbean countries make it an ideal transshipment point to the U.S. market. Belize's small population of 342,092 means it relies heavily on external resources to keep its economy functioning, and its location has intensified the drug trafficking problem.

The country's history with drugs goes back to the 1960s when marijuana cultivation began in the districts of Corozal and Orange Walk. Sugar cane growers turned to marijuana production as a way to make ends meet following a decline in sugar prices. Belize's location as a transshipment point, its open borders, free trade agreements, and large unpopulated tracts of land have provided significant opportunities for drug production and trafficking to thrive.

The recession of 2008 hit Belize hard, and its economy has not recovered since. This led to a revival of marijuana production, as growers once again turned to the drug trade to make ends meet. The unemployment rate in Belize increased to 12.1% in 2014, and with little economic opportunity, Belizean youth have turned to drug trafficking.

The U.S.-led 'War on Drugs' in Mexico and Guatemala has caused a 'balloon effect', pushing illegal drug activities into Belize. In 2011, the U.S. added Belize to its 'blacklist' of nations believed to be major producers or transit routes for illegal drugs in Central America. The country has become further enmeshed in the cocaine pipeline from South America to Mexico, and the U.S. believes that Belize is not strong enough to guard itself from the drug trade.

Canada and the U.K. have also gotten involved in the 'War on Drugs' in Belize, with Canada taking a militaristic approach and the U.K. focusing on trade, education, and health programs. The U.S. and Belize have also taken a militarized approach to tackling the drug problem, with the U.S. providing training and resources to the Belize Defense Force and police force.

Belize's small population and weak military and police force have made it vulnerable to drug traffickers. The country's response, following in the footsteps of the U.S., has been to adopt a hardline, militaristic approach. However, this strategy has been criticized as ineffective and some believe that drug legalization and investment in social programs may be a more successful strategy.

To reduce community violence, it is important to differentiate responses to drugs, guns, and ammunition. Guns tend to stay within communities, while ammunition requires continuous replenishing. Cutting off the inflow of ammunition into vulnerable communities can help to reduce violence. Additionally, tackling community vulnerabilities and providing safety nets for at-risk children and youths can create resilience to the negative impacts of the drug trade.

Human trafficking

Belize has a high per capita murder rate, and other violent crimes such as armed robbery, shootings, domestic abuse, and sexual assault are also prevalent. In 2022, the country reported a total of 1,035 major crimes, a 17.2% increase from 2021. While the number of homicides decreased, most other major crimes saw an increase. Notably, crimes against women and girls, including sexual violence and unlawful sexual intercourse, rose significantly.

Despite these efforts, there are still concerns about official complicity in trafficking crimes, inadequate labor recruitment oversight, and a lack of measures to reduce the demand for commercial sex. Corruption and complicity by lower-level officials, including police officers, remain issues. The government has been urged to implement anti-trafficking laws vigorously, improve victim identification procedures, increase training and coordination, and take steps to reduce the demand for commercial sex.

Human traffickers in Belize exploit both domestic and foreign victims, with migrants, children, economically vulnerable individuals, and LGBTQI+ persons being among the most at-risk groups. Sex trafficking often occurs in bars, nightclubs, hotels, and brothels, and the pandemic has pushed it further underground, with illegal brothels replacing bars and clubs as primary venues. Family members also facilitate the sex trafficking of Belizean women and girls, with wealthy males offering payment or gifts to families in exchange for sex from a young female family member. Foreign victims, particularly from Central America, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, and Asia, are often exploited using false promises of high-paying jobs or forced into labor due to their migrant status.

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIPS) Council, chaired by the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, coordinates Belize's response to human trafficking. The council comprises government and non-government entities and focuses on improving collaboration and coordination in protection, prosecution, prevention, and partnerships.

Frequently asked questions