Are the Burnt Remnants of an Aircraft and Aviation Fuel Found Tied to Illicit Activities?
Today, police shared details of the suspected drug plane which was found already burnt in northern Belize. According to the authorities, they were alerted about the remnants of the aircraft last week and when they visited the area they found very few clues that would point to the origin. Police say that no one was in the area in the Blue Creek community where the burnt aircraft was found. Today, police also told the media about the discovery of aviation fuel over the weekend. That fuel was found not too far from a legal airstrip in the general area of Independence but police say they are investigating to find out who owns the two hundred and six gallons discovered. Here’s more from Head of N.C.I.B., Assistant Commissioner Joseph Myvett.
Joseph Myvett
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“Sometime around eight-thirty a.m. on the nineteenth of June, Orange Walk police were called to an area west of Blue Creek, known as the Pioneros area, where on the side of a feeder road they observed the burnt remains of a single engine, white and maroon in color aircraft. The entire area was canvassed and no other items were found. This is an ongoing investigation being conducted in that area by the police.”
Reporter
“Sir, has there been a policy change in not to inform the public when these burn remains or an aircraft is detected or found? Because this happened last week when the media asked about it and still no information was provided?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Not that I know about because I know for a fact that I made sure it was on the police blotter for last Thursday.”
Reporter
“So, no other information about the origins of that aircraft?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“No we do not have that as most of it was burnt.”
Reporter
“So, the police was informed by people of that area?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Yes.”
Reporter
“Do you all suspect that plane was used for any sort of illicit activity?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Well, that is also being looked at based on some of the leads that we are following.”
Isani Cayetano
“Can you speak on the discovery of the aviation fuel in the south?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Yesterday morning around 7:45 a.m., Independence Police while on operation responded to a flat land, a grassy area on the Monkey River Road which is in the vicinity of a shrimp farm where they found a plastic drum and several eighteen gallon containers suspected to have contained aviation fuel which amounted to somewhere in the vicinity to two hundred and six gallons. Police are still on the ground conducting an investigation to determine who the owners of the fuel may have been and if any other illicit activity would have been conducted in that area.”
Isani Cayetano
“Can you speak to us then on the legality of possession of aviation fuel?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Definitely those who possess aviation fuel without a license or permission, there are charges for those persons.”
