4 cops and 2 others not guilty of 2 ton drug plane shipment
The biggest drug trial, involving more than two tons of cocaine with a value of one hundred and sixty eight million dollars came to a close today in the Dangriga Supreme Court. Four police officers: Renel Grant, Lawrence Humes, Jacinto Roches, Mark Middleton, former Customs Officer, Harold Usher and Mango Creek resident, Victor Logan, were accused of drug trafficking of the largest amount of cocaine to be busted in Belize.
The case started on November twelfth, thirty-five witnesses were called to the stand along with former Commissioner of Police, Crispin Jefferies, but the six defendants did not testify because at the close of the case by the prosecution, attorneys for the accused, Dickie Bradley, Simeon Sampson and Kevin Arthurs made a no case submission.
The prosecution focused on the drugs, the plane which had been dusted for fingerprints, military equipment and a GPS which showed that the plane arrived in Belize from the Venezuela/Colombia border. But the defense team argued that the prosecution did not link any of the defendants to the drugs or plane because there was no evidence to show that any of the accused persons had dealings with either.
This morning, Justice Denis Hanomansingh upheld the no case submission and directed the jury to find the six accused not guilty of drug trafficking.
The six were charged after a Colombian plane landed on the Southern Highway back in November 2010. Two thousand six hundred and thirty seven pounds of cocaine were found in eighty bales not far from the plane in two quantities. The accused persons were subsequently charged, but today their trial came to a dramatic close with a not guilty verdict.
This afternoon, the director of Public Prosecution commented on the outcome of the case. She says, “The crown fully appreciated the challenges that would have been involved in the prosecution of the case but felt confident that the circumstantial information available would have sufficed to establish a case against the accused notwithstanding the difficult environment in which the prosecutors had to operate and the less than enthusiastic assistance that was obtained from the law enforcement officers, the crown is of the view that sufficient evidence was in fact led to enable the case to go to the jury and so the lead counsel in the matter, Cecil Ramirez, has already began the process to appeal the directed verdict from D.P.P. Also prosecuting the case with Ramirez were Crown Counsels, Leroy Banner and Tasha Grant.
WHAT A !*&%# JOKE.!!!!. MrMcAfee is saying the truth. If we cant trust the POLICE or COURT. What else are we suposed to do?. WHAT MORE EVIDENCE THEY NEED?.I HAVE NO WORDS TO SAY I AM A SHAME TO BE BELIZEAN. I thought I will never say that. Just remember karma will get all of them. All lawyers are going to HELL. I was at the court just for curiosity and it was a circus all we needed was peanuts and bananas. No wonder every one goes free. What a shame.
This case marks a black day for the Jewel, control of the nation seems to have been transferred to cartels without an election.
GOB should have asked the UK or US for technical support in a huge case with international implications like this.
I only see 3 options to salvage a good result for the nation. [1] Maybe an appeal of the judge’s intervention can succeed, and with outside assistance maybe there can be a just result. [2] Whatever honest security forces we have need to resort to extra-judicial punishment. ]3\ Coup or “people power” revolution. What’s your cup of tea?
corruption runs deep in the country of Belize !!!!
Justice in Belize.
murder and mayhem, twists and turns, taking care of business
Hezbollah: paid somebody, but caught in Mexico; too bad fool, bye bye.
Mello: paid lawyer, on track to get passport and citizenship.
McAfee: did not pay, what a looser, get lost looser! Such a looser.
These defendants: paid lawyers, not guilty. Welcome back, your jobs have back pay.
Rumors that the coke not burned, just rumors.
How about the jury? priceless, wise and smooth.
See what did I tell you all I mi know it I told you this corrupt pm and gov. Would let all these people off because if one of them went to Jail he would rat on all the rest starting with judas barrow now their is no more wondering if this pm and gov. Are corrupt or not now every belizean know for a fact that this pm and gov. Are as corrupt as Russia this makes me sick to see this kind of corruption so openly done in poo ill Belize. And you all wonder why mcaffee don’t want to turn himself in I don’t blame him for this is the most corrupt pm and gov in Central America.
Only in belize. We are made to believe that trained attorneys for the government side could not link these men to those drugs…
Really….
That was the directive from the top. I bet there is not going to be no more talk about this. All these guys get there retirement package. Cause all there benifits will be reinstated imideaately. Retroactive…
It really a same. When will the curruption stop…
How about neva……..
From the onset of this case I had predicted the outcome. There have been no convictions on the largest drug busts in Belize over the past decades. With well connected attorneys, its guaranteed to win these drug cases. As in this case, you have a veteran team of Lawyers vs a team of amateur prosecutors that is a recipe for the results that concluded this case.
But the big question still remains. WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THIS DRUG SHIPMENT?unfortunately, that is not in the interest of the court to find out. So while these suspects were acquitted it still does not mean that they were not connected to this major drug shipment,The Police and the Prosecution bungled this one.
With anyone else in Belize, simply being in the vicinity of drugs, guns, or ammunition is enough to go to prison. Special rules for these boys, huh? Some puppetmaster high up seems to be calling the shots in this unusual case.
The airplane didn’t fly, land, or unload itself. Major criminals did that. Selling drugs is like selling poison, you’re going to kill people, you just don’t know who or when. It’s the filthiest “business” on Earth. Traffickers and all those who help them should hang. After the revolution, hopefully they will.
Absolutely Ridiculous!! That’s the way it is here though…. I guess!?
AM THINKING OF JOINING THE BELIZE POLICE FORCE N BECOMING AND LEAD AN UNTOUCHABLE DRUG CARTEL…. OUR BELIZE SYSTEM IS BS….. LAND OF THE FREE… BY THE CARIB SEA…… HAHA!!!!
If they’re not guilty then they can go back to work. Nice officers we’ll have in the police.
Ha! Am I surprised? NO!
This is biggerthan the Belize Police Force,everything in Belize is about political affiliations.
All these comments are right. I’m sad, ashamed, but not surprised. What does that say about the Jewel? @Bear is right, we need a revolution, followed by a Terror against corrupt individuals. That list is long.
@Elgin is right, too, this scandal is much bigger than the police.
These top drug lawyers don’t work cheap — who paid them? I have read in the States that attorneys must prove to the court and prosecutor the source of their fees is clean of drugs, money laundering, and other crimes. We need to get advice from the US government lawyers how to close the loopholes in our laws that let dirty money hire dirty lawyers.
How many of you stiill think McKafee is crazy? perhaps on drugs? but not bonkers/crazy? The next big thing that will catch everyone by surprize will be Guats. claim to the Jewel in the ICJ? More or less in the next five years Belize may be come territorial property of Guatemala!
THIS WAS EXPECTED!!! NOTHING NEW!!!
I feel like the big magician of mexico “el gran brujo”cause i said it before this was going to happen, applause for the us the for tellers.
really what a shame to this gov that can’t even put a ddp, a good group of jurrors for a case that was of this magnitude. even the burning of the cocaine was bogus.
damn!!!! a shame for a our country, bet there are politicians link to this, lawyers, cops of high ranks and last but not least the gov. responsible for not fighting drug trafficking but gives them a warning only as we see as a slap in the hand.
@ouagadoudou
I agree with you they’ll be the heroes when they go back to work and have bragging rights, damn!!! how low can our laws be for cases like this.
This was expected. Our Judicial system is a joke. Belize the safe haven for criminals.
Should we be suprised.
DPP- circumstancia evidence will get you nowhere in a court of law. We should have asked for outside help to be able to get this one nailed down. Sad- very sad to see this outcome.
Corruption has its tentacles deep in this government- it is as clear as day.
Dickie Bradley- you really di bring it on!
This is so sad. The Prime minister and his ministers are trying to deal with the crime in Belize. But they have to start for the top. If he and his minister stop the corruption and stealing from the People it will start a chance. He need to mend the judicial system. Stop making it so easy for these criminals. These guy didn’t even go to school and they can beat the court system against judges and prosecutors who have a masters in law. It should be that the minute your are caught with drug trafficking automatic 10 years. The same for weapon handling. Get rid of these guys.
I am not surprised by the way things have turned out in this case. We are failed state; it is just a matter of time before it becomes known. Our political system is to blame which have engendered this type of behavior. The social actors including the church are grossly out of syn and hence are simply part of the problem; without a revolution there is simply no hope.
Belize is a big JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM A SHAME TO CALL MY SELF A BELIZEAN!!!!! and that is so sad. McAfee is really making BELIZE look more STUPIDER
jail was the best place for them, the cartel will want their stuff back, somebody will pay, with their life or their family life.
Come on people, I know you are very smart. Please tell me you did not expect that these guys will be found guilty? This is Belize. Drugs is money..money is power…which big dealer ever goes to jail???????????????????????
Such BS*!!!!! Once again the Belize judiciary system have proven to be a joke.
So who paid who off………………….
The Judge and the rest of us; we all know that these guys are guilty but knowing this and proving it in a court of law are two different animals. I am sure they were not just hanging out on the side of the road admiring nature that time of the day/night. But id the evidence is not presented to secure a conviction they have to walk.
The week link in our judicial system is two fold (mainly). First and formost the Electorate should have no control over the judicial system (other than approving their nomination to the bench). Secondly the police force needs to stop being an extension of the government and they need to be better trained and better paid to attract more of those with integrity. They can start by firing the older heads because they will never change and if they keep getting promoted the culture will continue.
verymad that’s your business if you are ashamed to be a Belizean, I am not. “WHAT MORE EVIDENCE THEY NEED?” Really, then please do tell the evidence that was presented in court that you are talking about. Were u really present in that courtroom? Unless you are a police officer, one of the jury or d prosecutor, I doubt u were. An if karma will get all of them then that’s their problem not yours.
ceo it seems like u have the mind of the judge and everyone else u must be some kind of God. I guess you have never been out with friends celebrating at time time of day/night. I am no criminal and i have been on the road that late. I just thank God I wasn’t out there that night. The police were grasping at straws. If the police had a solid case then you tell me why there was tampering of evidence. I know a few of the guys and what they are worth which makes sense with they last part of your comment they are definitely not buddies with the older heads all these guys have years of service and have been stuck at one level for years they not part of the bunch that gets easy promotions.
Really cayobway if these men had anything to do with this i guess they would be dead by now it has been over a year since they have been released from prison and they walk the streets day and night fearless.
hahahh, ARE FREE BECAUSE WITH LACK OFF EVIDENCE HUH,, ok FOR SURE THEY ALREADY GOT THEIR SHARE. AND THIS DRUG DEALERS WEARS GLOVES OK THEY’RE SOOOO DAMN SMART. OK GOB CHK THIS GUYS & FAMILY BANK ACCOUNTS, CHK DEEPLY HOW MANY LOTS, PROPERTIES THEY HAVE INCLUDING GOOD VEHICLES, CHK THEIRS WIFE & KIDS ACCOUNT OR VERY CLOSE RELATIVES ACCT AND U WILL FIND OUT MORE…. WHAT A DISGRACE.. FOR SURE DRUGS ARRIVES IN BZE WITH PRIVATE PLANE FOR SURE A LOT OFF ILEGAL PEOPLE COMES ABOARD TOO.
There is a clear and dangerous message being sent with the outcome of this case. It says come to Belize if you want to commit a crime, we will look the other way. My country has become a joke. Barrow should hide his head in a sack and just die, he is a laughing stock as a leader. I believe that if these men were convicted, there are some bigger fish that would land in the frying pan. If I remember correctly one of these guys was a personal driver to a big official. Where you see smoke, there is or was a fire. Some person in authority had a hand in the way this case went.
McAfee may have been set up for a fall, he is not that stupid to kill his next door neighbor knowing that they would come after him because of the feud. These cases are deeper and bigger than we know.
Just hold on, the owner of the drugs aint through with these guys that caused them to loose that much drugs, they will still get their just reward, the columbians are waiting for the outcome. I would not want to hang with these guys, some day when they least expect it, someone will send them to the lake of fire and with them anyone who is a witness.
Mark my words and stay tuned, it is coming to pass. Drug suppliers do not loose an expensive airplane and millions of dollars in drugs and just say OH WELL, no, no, no. Somebody will pay and it won’t be with money.
@ Al Says, the tone of your voice is one of experience, have you done this before and paid like you are saying? or are you jealous of the loss, all i read and see here is petty comments like a rocket pointed no where, what part of no ebence dont you understand, if the crown failed to prove its case, then it failed, dd the prime minister go to testify in court, did the DPP see it fit to prosecute this case herself? Given the magnitude, one would have expected her to be present personally, she didnt attend, but the long and shor is that Bradl and his team did their jobs, why the hate? Of course we are displeased with the outcome, to cast blame whee there is nothing to substanciate those blame, again it goes back to he very principle of PROVING, all we do is post nonsene and a hep of followers agree and ten make post which are wil and baseless, cant we be responsible and factual?
@gn OF COURSE YOU ARE NOT ASHAME BECAUSE YOU GOT YOUR CUT ALSO BUT REMEMBER KARMA IS A B,…. THE DRUGS WERE DELIVERED TO ITS OWNER. PROBABLY YOU KNOW THAT TOO. REMEMBER THE SAME PLANE WAS USED TWISE. DONT COME WITH YOUR  THAT YOU ARE A GOOD BELIZEAN NOT EVEN YOU BELIEVE THAT!!!!. STAY SAFE (OUT OF DRUGS). GOOD LUCK.
@ looking FINALLY someone with common sense I agree with what u said. The DPP is a big joke she was the one that made the media believe in the first instance that they had a solid case knowing very well they didn’t. She was going on instructions and she knows very well what that is. My thoughts exactly why didn’t she prosecute this so call high profile case herself because she already knew what the outcome would be. Mr. Bradley, Sampson and Arthurs were all paid to do a job and they did so flawlessly. Haters will always be haters. It was never said there was not enough evidence there was NONE HENCE THE REASON FOR A NO CASE SUBMISSION when will our people lead the read and comprehend geez!
@ verymad NO I AM NOT ASHAME BECAUSE I AM PROUD TO BE A BELIZEAN OUR COUNTRY IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE WITH PROBLEMS BUT THIS IS MY BELIZE AND I AM STILL PROUD OF MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. I AGREE KARMA IS A B…….. AND SO IS WISHING BAD FOR SOMEONE ESPECIALLY SOMEONE U KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE NEWS LIED ABOUT BURNING THE DRUGS AND U HELPED TO DELIVER IT TO IT’S OWNER SINCE U SAID I KNOW THAT (TOO). WHEN U HAVE GOD IN YOUR LIFE YOU DON’T NEED LUCK YOU SHOULD TRY GOD THEN U WON’T BE VERYMAD ANY MORE!
I am so glad that they found our PG men not guilty Srg. Jacinto Roches and Harold Usher.