Cross-Border Cocaine Chaos: one Sought for Questioning after Parcels Found in Crashed SUV

Local authorities are trying to locate the driver of a full-size luxury SUV which was abandoned on Wednesday evening at the northern border with Mexico.  Corozal police were summoned to the customs cargo area near the border crossing around four p.m., where they came across a cream Lincoln Navigator.  The vehicle had collided into a metal post at the entrance of the gate during a pursuit by Mexican law enforcement sometime earlier.  The vehicle was attempting to cross into Mexico and while passing through a scanner, authorities noticed something concealed in the dashboard.  When they informed the driver that a search of the vehicle would be conducted, he reversed and sped off back to Belize’s side of the border.  In the process of so doing, the vehicle smashed into the pole, while the driver fled the scene on foot.  A search of the Navigator led to the discovery of six packs of suspected cocaine weighing more than thirteen pounds.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“On yesterday’s date, sometime shortly after two p.m., Corozal police were called to the northern border, the cargo section of the customs department where a Lincoln Navigator with Belize City registration plates was seen crashed into the fence.  Police observed customs official there who gave them certain information and as a result, a search was conducted on the vehicle which resulted in the discovery of six parcels of suspected cocaine with a total combined weight of six thousand, two hundred and thirty-eight grams.  Police have since impounded the vehicle and took possession of the drugs.  This matter is continuing to be investigated by the police department.”

Reporter

“Can you speak of the occupants?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“At the time police arrived there, there were no occupants in the vehicle.”

Reporter

“Did you get any information from your Mexican counterparts in terms of the name of the person who was in the vehicle?  Any copy of a driver’s license that you guys [may have] found?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“None that I know of, but I know that one person is being sought for questioning in regards to this discovery.”

Isani Cayetano

“Is it within the purview of the department then, to be able to trace the ownership of this particular vehicle based on the license plate and the traffic information?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Yes, we are in the process of doing that.”

Reporter

“Sir, in terms of where the drugs were found as well, you have pictures, the drugs were hidden in a concealed compartment.  So you guys have any information in terms of what this says about the operation, if it was a sophisticated operation or if this individual is linked to a big or larger notable drug operation linking with Belize and Mexico?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“No.  Not that we know of.”