The US Drug Enforcement Agency is teaming up with the Belize Police Department to investigate the degree of involvement of local law enforcement officers in the landing of a narco jet last Thursday. It appears the elite strike team formerly led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Marco Vidal had been compromised and the remainder of […]
In providing details of what transpired along the Southern Highway on Thursday night, ComPol Williams described a firefight in which the responding officers were out manned and outgunned by their own colleagues. Fortunately, no one was injured during the shootout. The battery of charges brought against the narco eleven on Monday, however, doesn’t seem to […]
Police have charged twenty-four year-old Malique Gentle for the murder of Adrian Hyde in Belize City over the weekend. Hyde was found stabbed to death on Sunday night on the veranda on the upper flat of a two-story house at the corner of Vernon and Mopan Streets. Police said on Monday that Hyde had been […]
It was a dramatic event, with a narco plane landing not in a remote patch of ground somewhere in the country’s interior, but right in the middle of the Southern Highway. A shootout ensued between police officers and those meeting the plane. In the hours that followed the incident on Thursday night, several police officers […]
The police department has moved quickly to bring charges against four of its own and as many as seven other civilians whom they believe worked in concert to land a drug plane in southern Belize. Despite the charges against the men, there is cynicism that the case will not end with any convictions. After all, […]
One of the officers implicated in Thursday’s drug plane landing is the assigned bodyguard for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The question of whether the matter will be prosecuted by her office was posed to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams during our sit down with him earlier today. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “The […]
A man was killed on Sunday night at the corner of Vernon and Mopan Streets in Belize City. The victim was apparently stabbed to death as he was socializing with others at a house. Assistant Superintendent of Police, Fitzroy Yearwood shared with the media today the particulars of the victim and the information that Police […]
And in relation to Friday’s bust and today’s arraignment, the Prime Minister said this morning that this historic bust will help to win back the trust of the public, and underscore that his administration will root out crime, even when high level officials may be implicated. Prime Minister John Briceño “When we come back […]
A sizeable haul of cocaine was confiscated by local law enforcement officers when a twin-engine aircraft landed on the Southern Highway near Bladen Village on Thursday night. The last time that stretch of road was used as a runway for a drug plane landing was in November 2010 when several police officers were arrested for […]
Tonight, the Belize Police Department is tasked with investigating its own, as it is believed that a trio of officers was directly involved with the landing and discharging of the aircraft. The quantity of drugs that was seized in southern Belize is under heavy police guard as a probe is underway to determine the extent […]
Among the officers in police custody is the bodyguard assigned to the Director of Public Prosecutions. According to ComPol Williams, the tribunal process has seen the dismissal of a number of officers who have run afoul of the law. It is unclear what the fate of the suspected officers will be once they go before […]
In neighboring Guatemala, several law enforcement officers have also been arrested for aiding the landing and offloading of a drug plane that touched down overnight in Petén. The involvement of police officers in drug trafficking activity is not unique to Belize, says ComPol Williams. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police “DEA agencies have been implicated […]
People who engage in the effort to discourage human trafficking today gathered to further their discussion on the topic. The assembly included personnel from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council, members of the Belize Police Department, the Ministry of Human Development, the Human Trafficking Institute, the Immigration Department, the Ministry of Labour and Local Government, and […]
On Monday we told you about the murder of eighteen year old Maud Williams’ student Ethan Thompson of Mahogany Heights Village early that morning. Two nights before, however, gunmen had targeted a vehicle belonging to his brother, Irvin Fitzgibbon. Today, Fitzgibbon told News Five he believes his brother’s death could have been prevented. Although he […]
There was a murder in Belize City on Monday night. Shawn Palacio Sr. was gunned down while walking on Mud Street, just before six p.m. Police say reports are a man walked up to him and fired a single shot in Palacio’s direction, causing his fatal injury. There are more questions than answers, however, as […]
A flight originating from South America on Monday night landed in Belize briefly before taking off once again to parts unknown. It is suspected that the aircraft was carrying a consignment of illicit cargo upon its departure, however, when it touched down in northern Belize it seemed to have simply refueled and proceeded on its […]
There have been reports there was a shootout between Mexican law enforcement and members of a drug cartel in the vicinity of La Union. One media story says it is believed that the gunmen may have fled into Belize. While the police department on this side of the Rio Hondo was made aware of the […]
On Monday, a group of law enforcement officers was ticketed and disciplinary action may be taken against them by the police department. This after they were busted on Saturday night for socializing near Marine Parade during curfew hours. It’s a bad look for the department, particularly since its officers are sworn to enforce and uphold […]
Another young man has died from gun violence. The latest killing happened over the weekend, not after curfew, but early in the morning as the high school student was bringing home his breakfast. Today instead of his family helping him get his books together for his return to face-to-face classes, Ethan Thompson’s family is grieving. […]
They are supposed to enforce the curfew and root out illegal gatherings, but tonight seven police officers are being investigated for allegedly hosting their own social get together on Saturday night, during curfew hours no less. Reports are that the group of off-duty officers was congregated at a night club and restaurant consuming alcohol in […]
A driver at the Dangriga Town Council is facing jail time after being caught stealing diesel fuel from the Council. The Financial Department at the Council reportedly caught on to the driver’s actions. Police told us that when they went to detain him they found fifteen gallons of diesel in his possession. ASP Fitzroy […]
The National Crime Control Council met this morning in Belize City to discuss exactly what its name suggests – crime. Today reporters spoke with the Minister on what that meeting focused on. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs “The Government has the political will now to address the root causes of crime. On October […]
In regional news, a Haitian gang has blocked entrances to fuel ports and is calling for the resignation of that country’s Prime Minister. Some businesses have closed because transportation is being cut off and diesel generators are facing the possibility of shutting down. Leader of G9 Coalition of Gangs in Port-au-Prince, Jimmy Cherizier, said he […]
The Commander of the Colombian Air Force is in Belize. General Ramsés Rueda and his delegation visited Brigadier General Steven Ortega, Commander of the Belize Defence Force, at Price Barracks, Ladyville. The purpose of the visit was to discuss combating transnational organized crime and the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries’ […]
Today two people convicted in the Dangriga Supreme Court in September were sentenced for their role in a case of child prostitution. Justice Antoinette Moore gave Jeffery Perez the maximum sentence of twelve years imprisonment for the crime of “child prostitution” and Petrona Inez Montejo got ten years for “Procuring a child for sexual exploitation.” […]
