Police and B.D.F. Involvement in Drug Trafficking Remains a Concern

Chester Williams

The involvement of police and military personnel in facilitating drug transshipment through Belize continues to be a significant concern for law enforcement.  Over the past few weeks, several police officers have been arrested and charged for drug trafficking, namely marijuana.  Still, it is not lost on ComPol Williams that there are rogue officers within his department that are involved in the landing of drug planes and the movement of cocaine across the border.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I don’t think that we have ever shied away from that.  As a matter fact, for the past few weeks, we have charged a number of police officers for trafficking large amounts of drugs, just that in those cases it was marijuana.  But we know that there are police officers and members of B.D.F. and coastguard who are involved in drug trafficking and the public can see that once it is that these officers manifest themselves, we deal with them.  We are not here to cover for nobody.  You want to go and deal with drugs, you are caught, you will face the consequence of it no matter where you work and no matter who you are.  It’s as simple as that.”

Reporter

“Sir, the suspects were not armed?”

Chester Williams

“Yes they were armed.  Two of them had shotguns and one had a nine millimeter pistol for which they had a license.  And again, as part of the process, it is my intention to revoke those gun license.”

Reporter

“What happens to the officers now that they have been charged?”

Chester Williams

“Well they will go on interdiction.”

Reporter

“Sir, when it comes to the boat that you guys weren’t able to catch, do you believe that the drugs that were on that boat are still in the country?”

Chester Williams

“We do believe that it may still be in the country and we still have a search team out in the area canvassing the lagoon.”