Possible Drug Plane Landed and Abandoned Items Near La Democracia

Police are tonight investigating the landing of an aircraft, presumably a drug plane, overnight in the vicinity of La Democracia, Belize District.  Officers at the Hattieville substation were notified of a suspicious airplane hovering in an area off the Coastal Road.  By the time they were able to make contact with an anti-narcotics team and B.D.F. personnel to deploy into the surrounding location, the pilot had already landed the plane, removed two of its seats, loaded cargo onboard, refueled and took off successfully.  When the officers arrived at the scene of a makeshift runway they discovered remnants of an illegal operation.  Left behind were twenty drums of aviation fuel, batteries, electrical wire, as well as the pair of seats.  The general location of the find has been frequented by drug planes picking up or dropping off cargo in the area.  This afternoon, Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster provided more details on the predawn operation.

Edward Broaster

ACP Edward Broaster, Regional Commander, Eastern Division Rural

“Early this morning we received information of a low-flying aircraft in the area of the Coastal Road where the Hattieville police were dispatched.  About six miles off the George Price Highway and another three miles on a feeder road, they came upon a clandestine airstrip where they discovered some drums of aviation fuel.  By seven this morning, they dispatched the Anti-narcotic Unit, as well as the Mobile Interdiction Team and some B.D.F. to the area where they discovered twenty drums of aviation fuel, along with a ladder, electrical wire and lights that were used for the lighting of the airstrip, along with four batteries and some plane seats.”

Reporter

“Sir, can you explain to us what is believed to have taken place in this particular location?”

ACP Edward Broaster

“Well, from the initial investigation it appeared that a plane landed and they took out the seat, we believe to make provisions for whatever cargo that they were transporting.  Because the seats were taken out of the plane we believe that they picked up cargo at that location.”

Reporter

“Is there anything to suggest what kind of elicit cargo it could be?”

ACP Edward Broaster

“We have no clue as to what kind of illicit cargo that was.”

Isani Cayetano

“Now the general area which includes the area behind the Belize Zoo, as well as Democracia has been an area of contention, in terms of these types of activities with aircrafts.  I recall a few years ago an aircraft crashed behind the Belize Zoo where several people were presumed dead on the spot.  Can you speak to us on any step up activity on the part of the police department or the B.D.F. to patrol this general area?”

ACP Edward Broaster

“Well, I know that the area where the stuff was found was once bombed to make craters in the clandestine airstrip, but obviously it was repaired to be reused.”

Reporter

“But the question was, have you made any efforts to increase patrols in the area, increase your presence.”

ACP Edward Broaster

“Well because of the resources that we have we are not able to make frequent patrols in that particular area.  Like I said, the airstrip was destroyed I believe once, right?  The airstrip was destroyed and obviously those who are bent on doing illicit activity made an effort to repair it and those can be repaired in a day.”