Commissioner Acknowledges Police Ties to Cartels, Warns Officers: ‘Suffer the Consequences’

Police Commissioner Chester Williams has acknowledged that some members of the Belize Police Department may be entangled in cartel-related activities and hinted at another potential reshuffling of officers in the Northern districts.

In response to questions about the recent discovery of Raheem Usher’s body and the note found at the scene, Williams reiterated his long-held stance on law enforcement officers engaging with criminal elements.

“If you decided to lie with dogs, you’re going to catch their fleas,” he stated. “If you get yourself entangled with the cartel, then you must suffer the consequences of it.”

Williams confirmed that the department had recently conducted a major personnel reshuffling in the Northern districts due to intelligence suggesting police officers were involved in cartel activities. Now, he said, another transfer of officers may be necessary.

“We moved a lot of people from there, but it looks like the time is coming again where we will have to look at reshuffling,” he said.

The commissioner made it clear that officers suspected of involvement in illicit activities would not be shielded from consequences.

“I’m not going to say we will provide protection to those officers who have gotten themselves entangled,” he asserted. “It wouldn’t be in the best interest of the department to keep them in these areas.”

He also confirmed that of the two police officers named in the note found near Raheem Usher’s body, only one is currently stationed in Orange Walk, while the other is assigned to the Cayo District. However, he stressed that authorities would continue to assess the situation and determine whether additional transfers were necessary.

When asked whether he believed there was truth to the note’s claims about police involvement in drug plane landings, Williams did not deny the possibility.

“I’m not going to hide anything,” he stated. “The public is fully aware that we do have police officers; I have said it on numerous occasions. We members of security forces are in cahoots with these plane landers in land planes. If i say that I don’t know then I would be lying and I am not going to lie to the Belizean people.”