Intelligence Suggests Compressed Marijuana was not Destined for Mexico

There is also the issue of the transshipment of illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana that get into Mexico from Belize. Just two weeks ago, on January third, Orange Walk’s Quick Response Team came up on a very large quantity of drugs that was suspected of being a drug cartel shipment. The compressed marijuana, a total of one hundred and eighty pounds, was neatly packaged and labeled with a ‘J,’ which was suspected to belong to a Mexican cartel. Ambassador Quesnel says that intelligence indicates that the drug was not destined for Mexico.

Carlos Quesnel Melendez

Carlos Quesnel Melendez, Mexican Ambassador to Belize

“I can tell you that I just came back last week from Mexico and I heard an opinion from an expert about the package that you are mentioning on marijuana. And I was told that this is not a typical package by a Mexican cartel because of the circumstance, the package, the different characteristics of the stuff. But we know and we are aware that there is a problem in both countries, a common problem that we face…marijuana and other illegal substances and material and goods. And what I can tell you is that yes, we do share intelligence; we do share information. We have institutionalized mechanism to share information with intelligence agencies of both countries and we have periodic meetings between the agencies of Belize and the agencies of Mexico. By the way, we will have the first one next month, in February. And that’s one of the main objectives to share information and to try to combat these illegal activities. We are certainly worried about this phenomenon at the border. We would like to see less smuggling of drugs in both directions. But I can assure you that we are working together with Belizean authorities in a very positive way and we will continue doing so.”