2024-09-19 - Channel 5 Belize

Major Cocaine Bust in Sarteneja Village, Four Persons Jailed

Police made a major drug bust in Sarteneja Village on Wednesday night. Personnel from the Mobile Interdiction Team and the Corozal Quick Response Team descended on the home of thirty-five-year-old Armando Torres just after nine o’clock and came across twenty-five parcels of cocaine amounting to twenty-eight kilograms. Present at the time of the search were thirty-six-year-old Mirna Durantes, thirty-two-year-old Delwyn Novelo and thirty-seven-year-old Nigel Neal. Today, all four individuals were formally charged with possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. They were arraigned at the Corozal Magistrate’s Court, where Torres pleaded guilty with an explanation, while the others pleaded not guilty. No plea was entered for Torres. Here’s Commissioner of Police Chester Williams with additional details.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The police in Sartaneja, the Corozal District, and particularly the Corozal Police, along with some of the elements that we have currently deployed in the northern area as a part of our northern operations conducted an operation yesterday or last night sometime around 9 p.m. thereabout in this certain area. The operation took them to a home where searches were conducted. The search led to the discovery of twenty-five parcels of what we suspect to be cocaine. The cocaine was taken into police custody along with four persons who were found at the home. The four persons included three male and one female. At the Corozal police station, the suspected cocaine was weighed, and it amounted to just over twenty-eight kilograms. Those persons, as I said, are in police custody and are expected to be charged today with drug trafficking.”

All four individuals have been remanded to the Kolbe Foundation until Friday, November fifteenth, 2024.

Marijuana Field Destroyed, More Cocaine Seized

Police also destroyed a marijuana field in the Rhaburn Ridge community. They also discovered an additional six parcels of cocaine during an operation in Chunox Village. ComPol Williams gave us details on both operations.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We also recently destroyed a marijuana plantation in the Rhaburn Ridge area. I think Rabourn Ridge would be in the Belize District but falls under the Orange Walk jurisdiction from a police standpoint. Again, that operation was led by elements of the Belize Police Department, and it was based on information obtained they visited the area, and they found the plantation and the plantation was destroyed. We also recently had a drug bust in Corozal District again, where six parcels of suspected cocaine were found at a house. I think in the Chunox Village Area a few persons were detained for that. One person pled guilty when the matter went before the court, and the case was withdrawn against the other. So, it’s an ongoing thing with our operation teams in the north. As you all would be aware that we have the ongoing northern operations, which the government of Belize have invested a lot of money getting the resources that the police officers need to be able to execute our duties in that area.”

PM Maintains Belize is not a Major Drug Transit Point

The United States government has listed Belize as one of the countries used for major drug transit and illicit drug-production for the fiscal year 2025. Other countries listed include the Bahamas, Costa Rica, and Haiti. This designation comes after evaluating the country’s geographic, commercial, and economic factors that facilitate drug transit or production, regardless of a government’s commitment to drug control. We spoke with Prime Minister John Briceño about the label, which he claims isn’t an accurate representation of drug transit in the region.

Britney Gordon

“How can you respond to other countries labeling Belize as a major transit point for illegal drug transport?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“But that’s not true. We have been working very closely with the United States government. We work very closely with Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico to try to discourage the use of Belize as a transit point. If it notices since we got into government, the number of planes that have landed in Belize has decreased dramatically. Now what has been happening now is that these drug lords, they have all the monies available in the world when you cover, an area or you stop an area, they’ve tried to find another way. What they’ve been doing is they’ve been using the high seas so when they come from South America, they would probably go somewhere that has a coastline like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, probably Honduras. And then from there, then they go straight on to Mexico to the United States. The bust that, that Honduras did, I think it was probably about two tons, if I mentioned of cocaine. All people were chucking it, and I was keeping informed by the Minister of Defense and the Minister of National Security Kareem Musa. And they were checking that, and then when the bust happened in the Honduras water, again they were informed. We are doing our part. Belize is not a transfer point, not anymore. And but right now they’re using the high seas and they probably are going through the exclusive economic zone. We have gotten some drones and we’re hoping that we can get even bigger drones that can go even farther. We’re negotiating right now either with Taiwan or the United States to be able to get boats that can go all the way out there. That’s what I think. We can help more with the interdiction of drugs passing through our waters going on to Mexico and the United States.”

ComPol Rejects U.S. Report of Belize as Major Drug Transit Nation

We also heard from the Commissioner of Police on the U.S. identifying Belize as a major drug transit or a major illicit drug producing country. Like the PM, ComPol Williams says he does not accept the U.S. report.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I am sure that as members of the media, you no longer hear of drug planes landing in our country. So, I wonder how that came about because the truth is we have done a lot. Our government continues to invest in the police and the BDF and the Coast Guard to be able to ward off these drug traffickers from our country. And we have made significant progress. So, when I read that report, I wondered myself what they’re using to be able to arrive at that conclusion, but it is their assessment of us. I don’t accept it. I’m sure that many Belizeans will not accept it.”

PM Says Opposition Leader is ‘Living in his own World’

On Tuesday, Prime Minister John Briceño addressed the country in his annual State of the Nation speech. In his presentation, the PM highlighted the growth of Belize’s gross domestic product and made the announcement that Belizeans earning under twenty-nine thousand dollars per annum will no longer pay income tax. On Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow delivered his response. Barrow countered by noting several businesses that have failed to keep their doors open in recent years, as well as the rate of income tax paid by civilians in comparison to corporations. We asked the Prime Minister for a response to these claims. Here’s what he had to say.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I would just smile and leave him as it is. I think he lives in his own world and his best, it takes two to tango, but it’s best to leave him there by himself. I think people have seen the work. People are feeling the work that the tremendous work that our government has been doing. More people are working, less people are in poverty. With the changes of the income tax regime, we’re allowing even more people to go into the middle class. The increase of the of the minimum wage to go to five dollars, that in itself. Like you said a tide rises our ship, so raising up to five, the people that were working at five, their salaries have gone up. It has had a a chain, not a ripple, but a chain effect because, it’s spreading off. We are living in a much better place than we were in November of 2020.”

ComPol Chides Opposition Leader over Remarks on Crime

On Wednesday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams issued a release refuting claims made by Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow in his State of the Nation address. As we reported, Barrow said that murders were up by forty percent year-to-date. ComPol Williams contended that, in fact, murders are down by one percent. Today, he told reporters that the Opposition Leader is insane for blaming the police and government for crimes being committed.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I find it strange that my friend, the leader of one of the opposition, I think they have two, right, tend to speak of crime and equate the occurrences of crime to the effectiveness, ineffectiveness of the police or the government. As a person who had in the past committed a crime and convicted of a crime, I am sure that he could attest that despite the fact that the U.S. is a first world country, they possess all the technology to be able to fight crime and prevent crime, he was still able to commit a crime for which he was convicted. And I am sure that he didn’t blame the police in the U. S. for the crime he committed. Neither did he blame the government of the U. S. for the crime he committed. He took responsibility for it. So, for him to now try to blame the police or the government for a crime being committed is rather insane.”

PM Responds to LOO’s Stance on Taiwan

On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow explained his decision to abstain from voting on a motion to celebrate thirty-five years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan. He explained that he is currently dissatisfied with the nation. We asked Prime Minister John Briceño for a response to the opposition leader’s claims. He told News Five that as Belize and Taiwan have been in similar situations, there is a moral obligation to continue to support each other.

Britney Gordon

“Can you respond to the leader of the opposition’s continued stance on Taiwan?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I don’t have time to waste with the leader of the opposition. I think it’s shameful the way he’s behaving. It is obvious that what he’s trying to do is trying to intimidate. And it’s sad because Taiwan has been a very trusted ally of Belize. They’ve been a good friend of Belize. And they’re where we were before 1981, when, every year we’re asking all our friends to speak or to say that they support Belize. Every year we used to pass resolutions in the United Nations for support for independence. And I believe that we have a moral obligation to be able to support Taiwan. Because at the end of the day, I believe that people should have a right to self-determination in any country. And like Belize, we said Belizeans should determine their destiny, whether they want to stay as a colony or want to be a part of Guatemala. Our Belizeans overwhelmingly, we said we want to be a free and independent nation. Taiwan should also be given that opportunity for their people to decide what should be their destiny.”

PM Unbothered by Haitian Gangs Threats to Belize

Last week, two Belize Defense Force officers arrived in Haiti to assist with the United Nations Security Council Resolution, which facilitates collaboration among CARICOM countries to restore security in Haiti. The mission was put together to establish conditions for free and fair elections. In response, Haitian gang leaders have come forward to warn Belize and other CARICOM allies not to intervene. We asked Prime Minister John Briceño for a response to the threats.

Britney Gordon

“Belize is trying very hard to assist Haiti in their relief efforts, but the gang leaders of Haiti have threatened Belize, which has offered to send soldiers. How are we navigating this?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I don’t think that the Haitian gangs have any gangs in Belize. I don’t give it too much attention. I think that our brothers and sisters in Haiti need help. I think it’s tragic what’s going on. The lawlessness that have overtaken Haiti. And we need to do our little part. We’re not going to send a thousand soldiers. Right now, all we did is send two soldiers to look at the logistics and see if we will go to the next point. There’s a ten-point list that the Minister of Defense have brought to cabinet and said, until these ten points are met, we will not send any of our soldiers to Haiti.”

PM Clarifies Inflation Rate is up from 2020

During his State of the Nation address earlier this week, Prime Minister John Briceño highlighted the decreased inflation rate as one of the successes of his administration. He said inflation has fallen from six-point-three percent to three-point-eight percent since 2022. However, in response, Belize City residents claim that they have not observed the decrease and complained about the high cost of living. We asked the Prime Minister for a response to these complaints. Here was his response.

Britney Gordon

“And some people do not agree that inflation is down though, sir, a lot of people, I know you mentioned this, but what can you say to those people that are disputing that?”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I understand what they’re saying. The prices indeed have gone up from 2020, but when you look at the rate of inflation, you compare it to the previous year, not to 2020. Last year, the inflation rate was over four percent and now it’s down to about three percent. About 3 percent of last year, not of 2020. So yes, the prices are still high, and we’re hoping that with time and competition, that the prices are going to come down even more. The issue of price gouging it exists and wherever we find that we try to act as best as we possibly can.”

Chamber President Says Many Factors Can Cause Inflation

While shoppers disagree with Prime Minister Briceño that there has been a two-point-five percent decrease in inflation since 2022, President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Katherine Meighan told News Five today that there are several variables that factor into the inflation rate. Tied very closely to that, she explained, is the issue of importation.

Katherine Meighan, President, B.C.C.I

“If you look at the statistics, just generally just what’s out there and you can pull inflation has plateaued. Nonetheless, there are effects that are coming into play. Examples: sometimes what you’re looking at is there is older stock that has now finished and newer stock has come into play. If it’s a commerce related matter. Now, additionally, it could be a demand and supply component as well? So there’s lots of angles that can cause that. Whether it’s all directly connected to external effects, we’ll have to continue to evaluate and see. Nonetheless, I would say, for us, we need to look at the fact that the more we are dependent on external sources, for instance, for food and packaging, the more we’re going to have these sort of effects where inflation comes in and can increase prices in a very unpredictable way.”