Suspected Drug Plan Landing in Progresso Village, Orange Walk
A clandestine plane landing took place early this morning in northern Belize. The suspected drug plane landed on the Progresso Road and was discovered by a villager around four this morning. When police arrived at the scene, all they found was the plane on fire. No one was in the area when police arrived and it is believed that the plane was intentionally set on fire to destroy any and all evidence of its illicit cargo. This is the second suspected drug plane to land on that very stretch of road. In April of this year, a twinjet mid-size business jet was discovered between San Estevan and Progresso villages. Its contents were removed and evidence suggested that those responsible for the landing attempted to set it on fire. Over the past months more than seven suspected drug planes have landed in the north, mounting pressure on the Ministry of National Security to address the matter. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo was up north today and has the story.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
A clandestine operation in the wee hours of this morning had law enforcement officers today combing an area off the Progresso Road in the Orange Walk District, looking for clues. At around four o’clock, a villager making his way out of Progresso Village came across the scene. Pictures show the plane on fire, leading investigators to believe that the twin-engine aircraft was set on fire minutes before the discovery.
The authorities were called and Corozal Police responded. Security Consultant at the Department of Civil Aviation and Former BDF Commander David Jones was at the scene, inspecting what was left of the burnt twin-engine aircraft. Also on the ground was Orange Walk’s Commanding Officer, Superintendent Juanito Cocom and his officers. Head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch, ACP Joseph Myvett briefed the media this morning:
Joseph Myvett
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“On today’s date shortly after four a.m. Corozal Police was called to an area on the Progresso/Copper Bank Road which is located some three miles northeast of Progresso Village where upon arrival they observed the remains of a burnt twin engine aircraft still on fire. Investigators are on the ground as we speak conducting investigations as well as conducting searches within the entire area. No other items have been found so far aside from the remains of the burnt aircraft.”
The aircraft, believed to have been carrying illicit cargo, did not crash land. Reports are that the plane used the Progresso Road to make a perfect clandestine landing. The position of the aircraft suggests that the plane came in from the south before being turned around into the bushes and set on fire.
ACP Joseph Myvett
“From the scene it appears that it was set on fire.”
Reporter
“Sir do police suspect that this is some sort of illicit drug type landing?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Well obviously it was an illegal landing because that is not an authorize aerodrome so that was an illegal landing.”
Reporter
“Do you have any idea as to what may have been in the plane, any illicit cargo?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“No we don’t at this time.”
Brought in to assist were BDF soldiers and a helicopter was used to hover over the immediate area in search of evidence that might help in the investigation. No one was at the scene when the police arrived and nothing more than the burning aircraft was found.
This latest recent suspected drug plane landing follows a string of secretive plane landings which captivated the nation and placed the Belize Police Department and Ministry of National Security under tremendous pressure to make arrests. In September, Orange Walk’s Former Commanding Officer, superintendent of police, David Chi, Police Constable Norman Anthony, Peter Friesen Junior, Mexican nationals Eli Figueroa Nunez and Azariaz Manzano were charged with abetment to the importation of a controlled drug and conspiracy to land a plane at an unlicensed aerodrome. Police believe the men are responsible for the drug plane landing which brought in fourteen million dollars worth of cocaine in Tres Leguas, near Blue Creek, Orange Walk. Chi was released on a bail of one hundred thousand dollars.
The secluded areas of northern Belize are a favorite for transnational criminal groups looking to use the country as an important transshipment point for the multi-million dollars drug trade. This time authorities were not aware of any suspicious plane that had entered Belize’s airspace illegally.
Reporter
“Did the police receive any information of any low flying aircraft?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“None prior to the information that was reported shortly after four a.m.”
Reporter
“Do police have any ideas as to the origin of this aircraft?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“No, at this point in time no as the investigation has just commenced since this morning so we are looking at all what has been gathered so far.”
Reporter
“Any intelligence from your counterparts regionally?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“No, not at yet.”
Reporter
“In this particular area it seems that there have been a lot of aircrafts landings, are the police command considering maybe placing some sort of present in that particular part of the Orange Walk District?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Well there is a police substation in Progresso Village and I was made aware that most of the formations in concluding Corozal do have a rural operational team that does operate throughout the district.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
