Drug Plane lands on highway with million dollars worth of suspected cocaine
Corruption in the ranks of the police, that’s an allegation that has been around from time immemorial but the stench of corruption hit eerily close to home this past Saturday when a sophisticated drug operation was busted in the south. Four police officers, including the driver assigned of the governor general, and a custom officer have been arrested. We’ll have more on the arrests later in the newscast but first, the bust came after a twin engine Beechcraft landed and sat on the Southern Highway for hours last Saturday morning. Later in the day police found in the vicinity, bales of cocaine containing an estimated two point six tons of the drug. If you do the math, at an estimated seventeen point three thousand US dollars per pound, the value of the bust is in the range of a whopping one hundred and forty million Belize dollars, using the US custom valuation. It is still early in the investigation, so the pilot of the plane, the local kingpins and the cartel to which the shipment is linked, have not been revealed. The plane has been pulled off the highway but sits on the roadside. We begin our coverage of this developing story with a report from News Five Jose Sanchez and Cameraman Christopher Mangar. They captured the spectacle by air with the assistance of an Astrum helicopter piloted by Gustavo Giron Sr. Here’s that report.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Residents in villages on the outskirts of Punta Gorda reported hearing an aircraft flying low over the roofs of their homes close to two o’clock on Saturday morning. That was when the Independence Police Formation received information that a suspected drug plane landed near the Bladen Reserve. At mile fifty-seven on the Southern Highway, the wings of the white plane stretched across the highway. The white twin engine aircraft with black and red pinstripes with registration numbers N786B is a Beechcraft Super King Air 200. By five the morning, it was being guarded by police and Belize Defense Force personnel. 
Since the road was blocked, a caravan of vehicles began to grow at the north end of the checkpoint. People left their vehicles and brought out babies as well as cameras to see the fairly large plane just sitting surreal in the middle of the highway. And they had reason to awe because the plane is much larger than those used for domestic flights in the country and it would have also taken a highly skilled pilot to land on the Southern Highway.
While some soldiers combed the ground for clues, the B.D.F. Defender flew overhead and also scoured the terrain for evidence of the cargo. Eventually, the Defender landed a half mile away along the same stretch of highway at mile fifty-eight. 
As you look to the left of the Bladen Nature Reserve Sign you can see the B.D.F. Defender parked on the highway, at the same spot the drug plane made its descent on the highway before coming to a halt a half mile away. A closer inspection of the scene reveals several lights on the highway that were used to identify the end of the plane’s runway, because the road would turn into a curve at a bridge if the plane went any further. 
The runway lights were made with an Atlas brand car battery which was wired to the left and also to the right of the highway with three lights each attached to two pieces of board. 
Two gallon bottles are visible to the rear of the plane and many more were strewn off the highway on the left of the plane. And a few miles south of the plane, between miles fifty nine and sixty, a cargo truck with flat tires was being guarded by the police. The truck is believed to have carried the fuel to the plane. The truck had twenty three seventeen gallons plastic containers, three tanks with about five hundred gallons of aviation fuel along with three fuel pumps, and twelve pine logs extracted from the area. 
Although trees were cut to clear the landing, the plane did receive minor damage when the wings clipped a pine tree, hence the reason why the pilot couldn’t take off. After three thirty p.m., the plane was towed a half mile away and parked off the highway to allow the flow of traffic which was backed up since early Saturday morning. And after additional searches, at five in the afternoon, near a saw mill, eighty bales of suspected cocaine and seventeen loose packs of the suspected drug found by the police. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
The packages had the scorpion stamp, which indicates the drug originated from Colombia.
Maybe even da govena general gat fu he fingas ina dis ting. Mek me go hhmmm
The big fish always get away.
i hope that the drug does not turn into powder….this drug should be secured inside the US Embassy so that corrupted forensic officers work their magic…
There are more people involved than the police officers…..
it happened in the old administration (Fonseca Organization), now we might have another organization but under the UDP………..
Belize airspace if free for all…….drug plane have landed by Carmelita (OW district), Spanish Lookout (OW district), Sarteneja (Czl district), Punta Gorda Highway now……..
Drugs is the reasons for the so much violence in Belize…….WE NEED EXTERNAL HELP…
Just one observation:
WERE ARE THE AIRPLANE FUEL coming from????
Its not easy to get airplane fuel in any country, worst in Belize….
Investigated those person that import the airplane fuel!!!!!!! who have planes in Belize that justify the use of airplane fuel??? (BDF, Maya Island, Tropical Air)
Hint: who lived on the South that is being known as a drug traffickers……also owns an airplane company….the surname begin with “Z”
Its just a theory….I might be wrong but I might be correct also
This has been a bad week, bad year for the BPD. The child molester followed by the thief leading the drug traffickers & one officer killing another in the station. Who is watching who? What’s next?
One has to wonder how many drops were made before this pilot screwed up. Can we have the drone back?
Now let’s put all the fun and jokes aside here folks. This is getting very concerning to myself and Im sure many of you will also agree with me as well . Is our country’s national security at risk here? I believe so undoubtedly! Its just way too easy for these cartels to carry out their operations apparently without any interceptions or detection. Its indeed very scary to know that these aircrafts can just fly into our airspace without anyone even noticeing that there’s an unauthorized craft that just flew into our airspace. Isn’t there a standard protocol that air traffic control should follow in such a situation? Or perhaps someone werent weren’t doing their job at the time of the incident. I believe air traffic control should have an account of EVERY aircraft who enters their air space and if there is difficulty communicating with a certain aircraft then the military should get involved and use extreme force and even shoot a plane out of our air space if they refuse to comply. But so far all we have been hearing is that planes are landing everywhere and nobody seems to know if we detected it on our radar as it invaded our air space. Am the only one who see something very wrong here with the way we do things in Belize or are we just going to ignore this again? I think our procedures and protocols are very sloppy and is indeed in need of some serious re evaluating!!!
BELIZEANS PLEASE STAND UP OR BELIZE WILL BECOME WORST THAN MEXICO….
The reality of Mexico is not really reported because the reporters have been threaten that they will be killed if it comes out on the TV…and they are really killed in Mexico if they report it…
just take alook of the reality of the drug war that you don’t see on TV….
This link [ http://www.youtube.com/user/BlogdelNarcoVideos#p/a/u/2/9GG6F0AdFkk ] is a shootout in the streets of Mexico. This mens are not afraid of nothing. They usually travel in convoys of 10 vehicles and are not afraid of the military……NOW IMAGINE THAT IN BELIZE….WE HAVE A VERY WEAK MILITARY…..
You can see the reality of Mexico in this link [ http://www.blogdelnarco.com/ ]. There is no freedom in some states (especially pacific and northern states) of Mexico.
God Bless Belize…Let fight together as one before its too late for our beloved Belize.
Another drug plane lands, more allegations of corruption surfaces from within organisations we trust, so what do we do about it? Nothing but complain!!
Hey, lets try and get to the root of the problem here. Is drug money being pumped into the country and if so just where is it all going? Poor people still crying for help after Hurricane Richard. Crime and drugs are giving Belize a bad reputation around the globe.
Perpetrators should be brought to justice, for the sake of our country, as it’s name is being sacrificed by the greedy ruthlessness of some, for which all Belizeans will be blamed.
This is the bigges reason why the young people killin each other. How could the country get better if the ones that supposed to up hold the law is the ones that breaks it. I would not be surprise if I read the news n they start killin the cops for that drugs. The air space to belize need to be protected just like every othe country stop killin each other and do someting to improve the country. The priminester need to ask the americans why there is know plain with drugs land on their highway.
i keep telling you all it starts from the top from the pm down gov general needs to be put in jail they all need to be put in jail the whole lot and there is no more time for talking its now time for action belizeans you can wait no longer we need to get rid of this gov. now march belizeans march the time is at hand.
My question is why we have the star of David on this well wrapped package. Is there a Jewish connection? Mr Barrow please would you listen to the people:
Clean up your police force,
Clean up your immigration
Clean up customs
Clean up the BDF
Sort out your DPP
These departments are vital to your sucess or failure as Prime Minister of Belize. They are undermining your authority and the security of Belize. What you needed to have done when you were elected was to sack the lot. Look at the driver of the GG? Suppose there was a deal gone bad, imagine a shooting out with GG in the midst? We know Hertula told the US about drug dealing with the ring dealer being Fonseca. Get these four policemen to cut deals and start talking or else they rot in jail. The next thing, you discussed about intercepting calls, the time has come to stop talking and act now. I want to see you have greater involvement with surveillance, vetting, looking into bank accounts, money laundering ask the FBI for assistance. I am sure if you asked america for help they would be more than willing to cooperate as this type of activity south of their border affect them greatly.
I know that the previous administration were involved in a hell of a lot of things. Therefore you inherited many of these problems plaguing Belize. However Mr Barrow I am a big supporter but two years on I am becoming increasingly frustrated. I want to see a serious clamp down, as I am beginning to wondering why the hesitation.
GUINEA GRASS Observer You need to quit your nonsense when your PUPs were in were your asking people to stand up for Belize. I bet you not because you were being fed. Ask you man Fonseca to stop importing drugs into the country.
What Mr Barrow need to do is round up all you people and interrogate all of you one by one. From Fonseca down. Maybe snowboarding will work well in Belize.
Government should do thorough investigation of this. Get outside help e. g. FBI to deal with this. Is it possible that high ranking police are involved. How can police department investigate the police department? This definitely needs investigation from outside the department. Mr. Barrow do your job please.
Weh happen to the pilot!!!! and where did they get the aviation fuel!!!
What is wrong with Belizean authority?? We cant even trust the police….!!!! Then when we do things they are the first ones to come after us and manhandle…Shouldnt they be doing what they preach ….
All authority in this country is cprrupted!!!! what is becoming of us??
Belize is slowly but surely marking themselves on the map or the black list of most corrupt countries in the world, the good will suffer for the bad, while that country down spiralled from lack of leadership, corruption, drugs and murder.
This suspected Drug Plane so brazenly made its landing on a public highway to do business; no doubt this deal was organized by corrupt officials/politicians and police officers, why? Simply because that road is less used late at night, or simply because the police officers can turn away any on-coming traffic threatening to put a hold on the drug deal in that location at that specific time and place. It is not the first time an organized drug deal such as this one was organized by the Belizean officials and carried out successful, and it won’t be last time either.
This piece of news named no names attached to the drug deal gone bad, but stresses more on the pointless information found at the scene while the corrupt book their tickets out there, there are reasons to believe that the corrupt officers names will be with held as long as possible while someone is named the scapegoat. Let’s hope the Columbians don’t go looking for their money in Belize, well, maybe that would teach those animals a lesson.
It’s getting nasty-Belize is a newer playground-Officials are corrupt–Why not. When the cleanup
comes–Don’t cry
Very good info Guinea Grass Observer….we need to stand up against this drug trade indeed before its too late.
Belize is not slowly but surely…… its already there. USA and other countries that are always helping us “FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS & HUMAN TRAFFICKING” what are they going to say now? “Are we helping a country to get more corrupted with all the equipment and money we gave them or are they helping us to fight this CRIME and VIOLENCE” SERIOUSLY PEOPLE!!!!!! what will our country become? We can’t even trust our own GOB. WHY? WHY? what is going on with this corrupted police men….and look they all work for the GOVERMENT OF BELIZE….who can the PM TRUST NOW. Mannnnn I think it’s time that the PM put a stop to these corrupted scumback policemen……SOON YOU WILL SEE USA COMING OVER AND START TAKING MATTERS IN THEIR OWN HANDS SINCE OUR GOB CANNOT DO IT. WHAT A SHAME FOR OUr COUNTRY.
Congratulations to the residents of Punta Gorda you have contributed to a major drug bust, keep your ears and eyes open there is more to come.
Maybe we need to set up some noise sensors on these parts of the highway where planes like these are likely to land, wonder what those that defend those stinking dirty cops have to say about this one and custom officers too they are no better than the dirty cops.
I guess the cartel got a little greedier this time and decided to use a larger plane where was the DEA when all this was happening seems like that they should be on top of this type of thing are they not in Belize? I will have to assume no since they have all the resources necessary to combat this type of operation and Belize is such a small place and can be easily monitored.
let’s see how this one will play out, I can only say to those operating on the side of the law be careful be very careful, do you really know the cop next to you and please check the drugs this time make sure it is not flour and destroy it quickly but make sure that there are honest witnesses to this destruction?
where are the pictures of the poeple involve so we know who they are…
FACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think people will die these drug lords dont forgive those mistakes
well I have known Jacinto for all my life I would never believe that this would happen to him, May God watch over you, if you are innocent you will get over your charges brother, but if you are guilty then you will have to suffer the consequences. I hope if the charges drop it will teach you a very good lesson, my message to you is to put God in your prays and your family needs to pray for you too. Nothing out here is merciful than the Man above us. Nor the judge, nor the police, nor Eden Martinez, nor Dean Barrow only God knows the truth.
why not just land at Independence? they’ve got a nice big runway there.
Just last week there was a lot of denial about Fonseca being involved in drug deals, that was denied. Is the governor general going to deny his involvement in this one. If he is innocent fine, but let us hear what his driver is going to say. These people do not understand what they are openining this country up to. They are in the process of making Belize a war zone, sentence these people to death please, their greed will ultimately lead to people being killed.
The corruption starts from the base (Government)….If they were properly paid an taken care of those police officers and custom guyes wouldnt have done what they did. The police have the least paid job and most risky… yes at times they just sit there doing nothing an on the internet waisting time flirting etc….. but dam consider them. start cut back on some of the things offered to them and start pay them better.” MONEY IS THE RUTH OF ALL EVIL” That drop was obviously a quick an huge bux…………
MR. PM needs to start cut all those unnecessary allowances they providing to the Misisters for doing nothing. some of those cash an return to the Ministries etc….
unu di cry recession and we need to raise this and pay that. cut unu self first. we the poor people paying for all unu crap……..
That’s crazy, we need protection from the very same people we’ve hired to protect us. Is it not clear we need outside help?
I agree that we should let the FBI come and investigate. Mr Barrow do the right thing. I believe this was all well-planned and also that this is not the first time this has happened with these officers. The custom officer along with some of these police officers are living a life way above their means. The post they have definitely can’t have them living the luxurious life they are living. I hope we can see justice on this one because the police get away with everything. Come on Mr. Barrow we have a lot of Belizeans looking for jobs, so please get rid of all these corrupted policemen and set an example that enough is enough and show that this will be tolerated no more. For once, we want to see that you care and begin to show no tolerance. I know if it were one of us poor lee Belizean’s, we would have been charged and already booked at the Ramada Hotel.(prison). Belize is going from bad to worse from all corners!
This is not the time to ask where is the pilot lets start from the top high ranking officers in the police force is responseble for this kind of action.
do you think that the Governor General would have ever stoop so low in something like this he is a hard working person so plz. don’t bring down our country Governor General.
We don’t know for sure if the G.G. driver is involve yes he was at the scene with several other police men but that still does not make him guilty.
7 news reported the names….FYI
Rod, how can you incriminate the GG only because his driver is involved. I hope if any of your family members are incriminated, its ok if they put the finger on u too.
Sad Situation to see police involved in this operation. How can they be trusted. civilians are monitoring this for sure and corruption among government
October 15 or thereabouts we had a drug plane land, Nov 15 another one land? What its every 15th of the months or what? Payday for someone, surely we can have the guys looking in the skies on the 15th of every months. This is bloody joke. Before I go any further under no circumstances would I believe the GG is involved here and I think its disrespectful to even suggest that for a minute. So all of you trying to cast aspersion, I will tell you now you are evil (Al) and twisted. I’ve known this person since I was knee high and he’s a hard-working, respectable outstanding Belizean.
Maddy and Global Perspective I agree with you guys. Global, did you mean Waterboarding? Sounds good either way only way to get to the bottom of all of this.
scary!
Remember Hurricane Richard Hurricane relief $33m…. DA P.M. said “Don’t ask me where the money is going to come From” Hmmmm…..or is it Budget Balancing 101 ?
Men this is getting out of hand. good observation Jon Doe people are likely to die for this.
So you all hear how much money those things are worth. You all that are asking for the P.M to do a clean up that make no sense. He need to clean up his act first. Bar Association said it
I feel like Belize is lost. corruption in the first government, corruption in the present Government.
Where can we turn to, or whom can we trust to vote for? When the higher ones are the ones
killing each other and the ones controlling the drugs to pass tru Belize. Landing all over Belize.
did u all know too that 1 wk after the plane was captured in the north, they were 2 planes also
loading in the Democracia Road. And that realy Got away. Where these same cops involved in and also the custom officer and the GG driver? puzzle!!! Hello Ministers do your job. there are so many petty things that the law takes care off and filling Prison with plenty innocent people. Hey, just put these few bad ones in there.
@ sunset: let belize as an independeny country do their own job, this is a good opportunity for the competitive laws or who so ever in charge get their own experince, i belive we not need eny gringos put their messy hands as they do with other countries dn take over them as their own pets.. let belize do their own thing and have them learn for their own…..no to frigging FBI or dem gringos gwein make a clown… or is their no competive investigators in belize?? where is national security now?? or is is it that we belizeans dont care?? or is it dat we 2 timid not to bring out our voices to be listened?? its time to put pressure on whatever matter is going in our beloved coundtry, come on ppl lets put all pressure on our governmnets, they should do what we want not what they want..
LOL!!! ref Jukdog….Drugs are a BIG PART of our Country and so is corruption. But Belize is not alone in corruption, don’t be stupid and assume that there is NO CORRUPTION IN THE USA or that the FBI, OR DEA IS NOT CORRUPTED. But lets look at the bigger picture. Belize is just a stop over because ALL THOSE DRUGS HAD A HOME ADDRESS AND THAT HOME ADRESS IS THE OLD U….S….A!!!!!
Well, what can I say, Belize is comming to a deteriorating state but who is to blame?? Aren’t we to blame to a certain extent? You see, the problem with us Belizeans is that we complain, complain and coMPLlian but who actually takes the time and the initiative to fix our problems? Many of us Belizeans call to national radio and express our concerns and our problems but is that the solution to fix our problems? It doesn’t surprise me that Belize is a port for drug trafficing. There has been many other instances that has happend but has never been reported. Belize needs strong reform polices. Corruption should be eliminated starting from the top and finishing at the bottom. There has been several instances in which high ranking public officials and high ranking government officials are caught up in the midst of a corrupt scandal but what is the penality that those individuals recieve?? Nothing…. Belizeans, our country cannot become a better Belize if even our police officers are engaged in illegal stuffs. Aren’t the police officers expected to keep our country at peace, aren’t the police officers expected to protect Belizeans? Another point that I want to bring accross is the poor degree of profesionality many public workers have. For example, I have heard of many instances in which those individuals working in the lands department take advanatage of the poor people. Is there a body that seeks to the concerns of the poor people?? If so can anyone tell me? Tax payers are paying their salaries and they don’t even get the job done and to top it up we need to give them a lil something as an incentive for them to speed up the process of getting the job done??? MAN, DAT IS NONESENSE!!! Aren’t we paying them in first place?? Nothing will be resolved if high ranking individuals are engaged in corruption because they are the ones that protect corruption.
PEACE
jaja its the seta cartel doing that,that scorpion looks familia,and another one will land on the spanish look out hight way look out for it
EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT CORRUPTION,AND NOBODY WANTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INTELLIGENCE WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUST.
I am so ashamed of my country, never would I have thought this is what Belize would come to. I know things change and nothing stays the same, however did Belize really have to change for the worse, REALLY….
I for do not have any confidence that this will be solved, the powers that be does not want this to be solved so we can sit at our computers and cry and demand and write whatever we want, but basically awe are wasting our time and electricity because Belize people have made MONEY it’s god and that is all they care about, they will do anything for money and I do mean anything. We are so busy keeping up with the Joneses and making sure we have more than the next person so we can look down our nose at each other that we have no morals, and honesty is a bad word in this society. It is sad but I personally know that it will not change this is the way of life for this country and no one is going to do anything about it all we will all do is TALK TALK TALK and if we get our share then not even that we will do we will get silent and enjoy the spoils. That is the reality of Belize and Belizean people. SO SO DISAPPOINTED!!!!!
WELL WELL I HAVE AN IDEA WHY DONT BARROW SELL THIS THING ITS OVER 140 MILLION WORTH AND THE POPULATION OF BELIZE IS LESS THAN 5 HUNDRED THOUSAND .GIVE THE ALL RESIDENTS A MILLION AND THERE U JUST SOLVED THERE THE POVERTY CRISIS IN UR COUNTRY THE REST U USE IT AND PAY SOME DEBTS.LOCK ALL THE CORRUPT ONES .LOL JUST A SUGGESTION BUT A GOOD ONE
I KNOW MUSA AND FONSECA WUD AGREE WITH ME BUT THOSE GREEDY BASTARD ARE OUTSIDE LOOKIN IN RITE DROOLING ON THEMSELVES ONLY DIFFERENCE THEY WOULDNT GIVE THE BELIZEANS THIER SHARE THEY WOULD KEEP IT FOR THEMSELVES BARROW START BY AUDITING MUSA AND FONSECA I BET WHEN U TAKE THIER MONEY AWAY THEYLL IMPLICATE EVRYONE ELSE BEACAUSE OF COURSE THEY WOULDNT WANT ANYONE RICHER THAN THEM
Well said Global Prosp. very intelligent… sometimes I read the blogs to be amused, you really get an opurtunity to see where people are in their thinking, and then we have people like you that brings a balance… I am an Independent, don’t have a party spirit. How quickly people forget, for so many years the people under the former administration were complaining, so they bring in this administration… It has only been 2 years, is he a magician? look what he have to work with? who can he trust? their is unsavery people in every department from the previous admin. He can’t do everything by himself that is why he have ministers , but who can he trust? people are greedy , no no morals and no character, they want what they see now! they think they have one life to live so it is all about now…. then you have the people breathing down his back to do something, perplexity on every side….
I remember from reading a somewhat similar scenerio… The children of Israel crying out for a Deliverer, who were they crying out to? well, Moses came on the scene… After what was to be just a few journey to the Promise Land it took them how many years ? 40!!! then what happen to Moses? he did not reached the Promised land, why ? the people.. they gave him such a hard time, that he got angry and did his own thing instead of following instruction from the CEO… people , people, if you are not focused they will drive you to do the unthinkable. people! they haven’t change…. Jesus they wave Palm branches one day, the same people a few days later shouted ” crucify Him ” !!! The moral of the story? people haven’t change, .he best to you Dean Barrow……