Police haul in twenty kilos of cocaine

It is one of the biggest drug busts in recent memory. On Thursday, police seized a whopping twenty kilos, that’s over forty-five pounds of suspected cocaine. San Ignacio police, acting on a reliable tip apprehended their suspect, Carlos Gibson, a resident of Alta Mira, Corozal. He was nabbed while traveling along the Western Highway and it is believed that the drug was brought into Belize from through the western border. News Five spoke with Superintendent Paul Wade, Officer Commanding San Ignacio Police Station.

Supt. Paul Wade, O.C., San Ignacio Police Station

“At approximately ten-thirty a.m. Thursday morning San Ignacio police acting upon information received intercepted a white Chevrolet pickup truck with a Corozal license plate that was traveling from the direction of Benque Viejo to San Ignacio.  At the time the one occupant of the vehicle was one Carlos Jonathan Gibson, a twenty-eight year old businessman of Alta Mira Village, Corozal District.

Supt. Paul Wade

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of eighteen packs of suspected cocaine weighing a total of twenty point seven kilograms. A search of Mr. Gibson also led to the discovery of one point four-five ammunition. Mr. Gibson has been detained and is pending charges of Drug Trafficking and Possession of Prohibited Ammunition.”

Isani Cayetano

“Were the police acting on information received or was this just a random stop and search?”

Supt. Paul Wade

“We were acting on information received.”

Isani Cayetano

“Were anyone along with Mr. Gibson or was he travelling alone?”
Supt. Paul Wade

“Mr. Gibson was travelling alone at the time.”

Isani Cayetano

“Can you tell us where his intended destination would be since he was in transit through San Ignacio?”

Supt. Paul Wade

“Well, we are investigating the case. We know that he came across the Belize Western Border and was heading north. we suspect that the drugs was being transshipped to Mexico but that is what we suspect.”

Isani Cayetano

“Is there an estimated value at this point; an estimated street value for the seizure of the cocaine?”

Supt. Paul Wade

“My understanding is that the quantity is valued in excess of four hundred thousand dollars.”

This morning at about eleven thirty San Ignacio Police escorted Gibson to the San Ignacio Magistrate Court where he appeared before Magistrate Rachel Montejo.  Gibson was charged with a single count of kept prohibited ammunition.  He was unrepresented and pled guilty to the charge.  Due to the nature of the offense Gibson was remanded to Hattieville Prison until May eighteen.