National Security Says Belize Missed Info for Drug Plane Landing

It has been thirty-six hours since the latest alleged drug plane landed in the north of Belize, on the San Estevan-Progresso Road. Late this evening, the Ministry of National Security issued a statement on the sixth suspected drug plane in recent months. The ministry states that aviation authorities in Belize rely on information from a network of partners, including the United States, Mexico and Central America, to keep updated on any suspicious aircraft heading to Belize and the region.  But when pilots actively avoid radar detection by turning off or removing the aircrafts’ transponders, Belize must then rely on actual sightings and the most recent intelligence received locally, or from our regional partners, to anticipate the landing areas for the planes. The release also states that law enforcement authorities try to cover multiple possible landing sites, the pilots also have several landing options and are therefore able to elude authorities.  Along with regional counterparts, the Ministry of National Security says it continues to look for ways to improve detection capabilities, in an effort to thwart illegal landings.