ANU Commander Demoted after Failing To Meet Requirements  

The Anti-Narcotics Unit is operating under new leadership after Assistant Superintendent and former Deputy Commander, Roberto Novelo, was replaced with Francis Williams, who was Novelo’s deputy. When asked about the change in the unit, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams explained that Novelo was removed from his position as he did not meet requirements upheld by the U.S. government that are needed to fulfil the role. Williams was also pressed about a recent search being conducted by the unit, which he said is still under investigation.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

 “No, the ANU has a commander. the substantive commander, as you rightly said, was removed.  We do have a MOU with the U.S. government in particular this year. As it relates to the administration of the ANU, where the commander and all members must undergo certain procedures every three years. And if you don’t pass those procedures, then you are removed. And so the farmer or the substantive commander, um, did not meet the requirements and so he was removed. And the deputy commander is now the new commander.

 

Reporter

“He failed the lie detector test?”

 

Chester Williams

“He did not meet the requirements.”

 

Reporter

 

“And then we saw the ANU doing a search at camp twenty. At a residence of a man and we know that there’s a lot of hubbub about this, it’s supposedly a land fraud case, all types of allegations are being made and we know the personalities are personalities who might be of interest to police. What do you know about the raid at Camp twenty by the AMU?”

 

Chester Williams

“I know that the police, not just the AMU, but police officers are always and if it is that the police have information of any, um, wrongdoing being done by anybody, then the police will go in and do what needs to be done. And so Camp twenty is no different. Once there’s information, then we go in and try to verify what we’re getting.”

 

Reporter

“But you’re aware these people are alleging land fraud orchestrated by someone associated with a Belize city gang?”

 

Chester Williams

“Well, I am not aware of that aspect of it. if that is the case, then I would encourage them to come and make a report on it and then we investigate and see.”