Accused drug dealer detained pending extradition

Around one this afternoon police officers raided the home of Mark Seawell in the Belama area of Belize City. Seawell was taken from the house in handcuffs, along with a number of items including what appeared to be a military style backpack. Police press officer G. Michael Reid confirmed that Seawell has been detained in connection with an extradition request by the United States government. The local U.S. D.E.A. office in Belize declined to provide any information on the matter. Reports out of Jamaica indicated that two of Seawell’s brothers have been similarly detained in that country at the request of U.S. authorities. It could not be confirmed whether the crime allegedly committed by Mark is the same one for which his brothers are being held. In 1997 Mark and his brother Gary were named as co-conspirators in a U.S. federal drug indictment that saw their alleged U.S. accomplices plead guilty to the importation of cocaine to Columbus, Ohio from Belize and the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It is not clear when the legal proceedings against Mark Seawell will begin.