Vidal Says Blame It on the “Kush”

The illegal sale of marijuana has long since been identified as the root cause for an eruption of gun violence among feuding groups in Belize City.  Both activities have spiked considerably over the past few months, a total of twenty-nine murders being committed as of July first.  According to Senior Superintendent Marco Vidal, who heads Eastern Division South, gangs are at war over the retailing of an imported strain of cannabis that remains in heavy demand.  Kush, as it is known, is not native to Belize, therefore it fetches a higher price.  The economics behind the expansion of the trade is what he believes have seen the numbers of murders skyrocket.

Marco Vidal

Sr. Supt. Marco Vidal, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“I take no culpability for this, for the simple reason that it has been explained for some time now that these incidents have arisen as a result of an internal eruption of the gangs who have, for whatever reason, decided that they should sell drugs and expand the sale of drugs.  And whilst we have the expansion of the sale of drugs, obviously people arm themselves and in people arming themselves they will protect turf or they will try to gain other turfs.  So in doing these things then we see that eventually what would have been a certain level of friendship turns out into an enemy rivalry because of the same sale of drugs.  It has been repeatedly said that these incidents are the result of the expansion of the sale of drugs.  The quality of drug that is on the street, as you would know better than I do, that the quality is what is called Kush and it is not grown locally.  It is something imported.  It is costly, so the loss of those products, someone will have to pay for those products and when they can’t pay then there will be deaths for these things.  It happened while I am in command.  Yes, it has happened, but in terms of taking any personal responsibility, I am not taking any personal responsibility because I am not responsible for any of those things.  We will continue to police our area and we will strategize and continue to strategize to target these very people who are committing these crimes.”