Gardenia Residents Charged for Smuggling Semi-Automatic Rifles in Shipment

Two residents of Gardenia Village are facing serious charges after authorities intercepted two semi-automatic rifles concealed within barrels and a wooden box.  Dinsdale Linbert Flowers, 53, a bus owner, and Irene Dawson, 55, a cook, were arrested and charged with two counts of keeping firearms without a license and illicit trafficking of firearms.  The incident unfolded on Thursday, January 9, at the Queens Bond Shed at the Customs Building. Customs officials intercepted a shipment addressed to “Irene of Gardenia Village.” Upon inspection, they discovered components of a firearm within six barrels and a wooden box.  Flowers, who had arrived to claim the shipment, was immediately detained. Police were called to the scene and confirmed the components belonged to two firearms, specifically, a black M4 Carbine Caliber .22 and a black rifle with no serial number, no manufacturing marks.  Both firearms are classified as semi-automatic weapons.  Following the discovery, police proceeded to Gardenia Village and arrested Irene Dawson, the intended recipient of the shipment.  Both Flowers and Dawson appeared before a Senior Magistrate in today. They pleaded not guilty to the charges. Due to the serious nature of the offenses, the Magistrate denied bail and remanded both individuals to the Belize Central Prison until March 13, 2025.