Suspected drug plane lands on N. Hway; five Belizeans detained
When it comes to the transshipment of drugs, “wet drops” are traditionally the transportation mode of choice in Belize. But as News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports, traffickers will risk life, limb and a million dollar plane in their bid to get their product north.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This was the scene between miles forty and forty-one this morning, a plane parked in the middle of the Northern Highway.
While it is suspected the King Air Beech craft was used to traffic drugs through Belize, investigators only found containers of aviation fuel and empty cans of energy drink inside the plane. The registration numbers are false and a sticker of a Venezuelan flag was found on board but police believe the plane is Colombian.
The dramatic scene unfolded around two this morning when motorists travelling on the Northern Highway reported that masked men dressed in full black were not allowing traffic to pass between miles thirty-nine and forty-four. Members of the Belize Defence Force were the first to respond to the scene. The soldiers say when they arrived a number of masked men, armed with what is believed to be AK47 machine guns, were standing around a container truck parked in front of the aircraft.
Janelle Chanona
“Law enforcement officials say the masked men fired upon them and during the ensuing shootout took off in different directions on either side of the road. The man behind the wheel of the truck accelerated and drove off into the bushes where he abandoned the vehicle.”
Because investigators later discovered blood in the cab of the truck it is believed the B.D.F. injured the driver. Investigators suspect the traffickers were in the middle of refuelling the plane when the soldiers arrived. The container truck is registered to Orange Walk resident Zacarias Copo but police would not confirm if he was among the five Belizeans detained in the vicinity.
Senior Supt. Robert Mariano, Officer Commanding, O.W. Police
“Some of them were dressed para-military and on the clothing you can see a lot of debris from leaves and their clothing was totally wet. It is obvious from their clothing that they were fleeing from something or running from something. As a matter of fact, there is hard core evidence that they were involved in the landing of that aircraft.”
Janelle Chanona
“Because you didn’t find any drugs, what would be the charges you lay against them?”
Senior Supt. Robert Mariano
“Well we are consulting the D.P.P. but most likely they will be charged with something related to the landing of aircraft in this country without authority.”
It is clear the drug runners meticulously planned today’s early morning operation, choosing the almost five miles of straight road between miles thirty-nine and forty-four as their landing strip. A map found on board also indicates that the coordinates were sent to the crew in advance.”
To make sure it was a smooth arrival, this tree and lamppost were cut down. Waiting on the ground was a GPU to recharge the plane’s battery, ample aviation fuel in a Rotoplas tank and nineteen eighteen-gallon containers and even commercial equipment to ensure rapid fuel transfer. There’s also limited cellular service in the area, an asset should anyone wish to report suspicious activity to the authorities.
Janelle Chanona
“More than three thousand people commute daily from Corozal and Orange Walk to work in Belize City. Because of this morning’s incident, traffic had to be diverted off road.”
But many didn’t mind the delay and used the diversion to take pictures of the unbelievable scene. One of the people to stop at the plane was Minister of National Security, Carlos Perdomo.
Janelle Chanona
“I remember at one point there were several poles constructed along the Northern Highway to prevent exactly this sort of thing, will you also include measures like that as part of your strategy?”
Carlos Perdomo, Minister of National Security
“That was one strategy that did not really work because what they would do is come about ten minutes before the plane landed and just bend them over, just with whatever and this is sometimes two, three, four in the morning when there are hardly any body on the highway. So I don’t think that particular type of tactic will be used again. I think the main tactic is to have more radars so that we can look at the sky at night and then with good intelligence from our neighbours, try to intercept. We will be increasing equipment for the new coastguard, they are going to be like the policemen at sea. Again we are going to have radar at sea, we are going to have radars inland.”
Janelle Chanona
”And community participation no?”
Carlos Perdomo
“That is always key because like you said earlier, the people involved in the trade cartels used their money to get people’s help. We have to try to do the same.”
After the plane and truck were processed by forensic experts, the aircraft was examined by aviation experts and towed to the B.D.F. Airwing in Ladyville for storage. While it is not believed that any of the men detained today orchestrated the pre-dawn operation, police sources tell News Five that the prisoners are cooperating with investigators and are naming names. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.
Since it is unlikely that anyone will come forward to claim the plane, the aircraft will become Government property and will eventually be auctioned off or commissioned into the Belize Defence Force.
