Special Patrol Quartet Fingered for Cocaine Theft from Operation

Noel Leal

A team of four officers attached to the Special Patrol Unit is under investigation tonight for reportedly taking a quantity of cocaine from evidence during an operation in the Cayo District almost one month ago.  It was a sizeable haul of narcotics, but police are remaining tightlipped about the actual quantity.  According to ACP Noel Leal, the matter was never reported and remains an allegation.  Nonetheless, the Professional Standards Branch has been tasked with investigating the claim.  The Acting ComPol refused to divulge much detail on the incident; however, he says that the matter may end up before the courts.

ACP Noel Leal, Acting ComPol

“A multi-prong or a multi-agency investigation is being conducted by the Professional Standards Branch and I have gotten preliminary reports with recommendations and we are perusing them and we’ll be seeking legal advice as to how to proceed with that case.  I won’t want to discuss it too much more because it might end up being a matter for the courts or some other authority to decide so I wouldn’t want to prejudice anything?”

Reporter

“Are you able to confirm that six SPU officers or is it eight SPU officers and that it’s twenty-six parcels of cocaine?”

ACP Noel Leal

“I can confirm that it is less than the six or the eight.  We have in focus four, but I cannot confirm the amount of parcels.”

Isani Cayetano

“Can you give us the background on what transpired, to put it into some perspective?”

ACP Noel Leal

“As I said, I wouldn’t want to get into much detail but basically an operation was conducted supposedly and there’s only one actual person who is speaking, but we have to do a lot of corroboration and multi-agency investigation to reach a point to decide whether something did happen or not.”

Reporter

“When and where was this operation conducted?”

ACP Noel Leal

“It was reported in the western part of the country.”