2 PG Police Officers Suspended for Alleged Role in Suspected Drug Plane Landing in Barranco

Peter Graham

Two officers have been suspended pending further investigation into a suspected drug plane in southern Belize. Police Constables Peter Graham and John Ordonez are in trouble with the law tonight because of their alleged involvement in the illegal landing of a single engine aircraft in Barranco Village, Toledo District.  During today’s police press brief, Deputy Commissioner of Police Chester Williams provided official details on the plane that touched down on Plett’s Farm just about a mile off the Barranco Road. Williams says police were informed of an aircraft being tracked from Venezuela en route to Belize; the Cessna plane, with markings Centurion 210, is similar to another that was intercepted back in September near the Tres Leguas community in Orange Walk.  In the previous landing, police were able to seize one thousand, two hundred plus pounds of cocaine; two Mexicans, a civilian as well as PC Norman Anthony and Superintendent David Chi were charged. In last Friday’s case however, while several persons were detained, including three officers attached to the Punta Gorda Station; no one has been charged. PCs Graham and Ordonez will face disciplinary charges and will be placed on interdiction. Williams, as Acting Commissioner of Police, explains.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Acting ComPol

“Upon inspection of the plane, we found out that it had no content. A vehicle was seen not too far from the area where the plane was found and that vehicle was stopped and inside the vehicle was a police officer and a civilian. Inspection of that vehicle revealed one blue fifteen-gallon which contained fuel and a seat; the seat was observed to be of similar type and material as that of the plane. The two individuals were taken into custody and police conducted further investigation which led to the detention of two other police officers—all of whom are posted in the Toledo district—along with other civilians. They were kept in custody and interviewed; however, up to yesterday when they were released, we had not obtained sufficient evidence to levy charges on either of the detainees. Today, we suspended from duty PC Peter Graham and PC John Ordonez pending the outcome of the investigation. I have put together an investigating team comprising of major crimes, anti-narcotics unit, professional standards branch and special branch, who will be tasked to vigorously pursue the investigation. And when that investigation is over, then we will see who will be charged if any. However, the police officers who are being suspended will face disciplinary charges between now and Monday; after they have been charged disciplinarily, then they will go on interdiction.”