More Suspected Drug Planes Landing in Northern Belize

The unauthorized landings of private aircrafts in northern Belize, primarily in the Orange Walk District pose a grave national security threat to the country.  Since the beginning of the year, at least four suspected drug planes have landed in an area known as Tres Leguas which is not far from the Belize/Mexico border in the northwest.  In all cases, the planes were either damaged upon touching down at the clandestine landing strips or torched in an attempt to destroy key evidence.  At no time has the Belize Police Department been able to intercept the landings, nor have there been any arrests in connection with the illegal activity.  Minister of State Elodio Aragon Junior says that more can be done by way of intelligence gathering to stem narco-trafficking activities in the north.

Elodio Aragon Jr., Minister of State, National Security

Elodio Aragon Jr.

“That is always a concern, I mean these are some serious, serious criminal activity, you know.  It‘s not the stealing of a sweet in the store, you‘re talking about drug trafficking and it‘s a serious concern for national security, a serious concern for the police department because these are the things that if we don‘t put a check on it will lead to greater issues in the very near future and I think that we have to look at it and it‘s not so easy, but we as a department with the resources and technology we have do what we can.  But I do believe that there is more that can be done and we must do more…”