Belize Security Forces Bust Narco Plane, Seize 551 Kilos of Cocaine

Tonight, Belize’s security forces are being commended for what is being described as a decisive and highly coordinated blow to transnational drug trafficking networks.  A multi-agency operation carried out late Friday evening led to the interception of a narco-plane, the seizure of a massive quantity of cocaine, and the arrest of two Mexican nationals, namely, Paul Valenzuela Osuna and Edgar Aguilar Trinidad, both 47 years old.  At a high-level press conference, commanders from the Belize Police Department, Belize Defence Force, and Belize Coast Guard outlined how the operation unfolded.  In a bold and coordinated strike against organized crime, Belize’s security forces successfully intercepted a suspected drug plane on Friday evening in the Neuland area of the Corozal District.  The aircraft has now been identified as a Cessna 210L Centurion, white and navy blue in color, which authorities say was tracked from South America using live intelligence feeds before landing at approximately 6:14 p.m.  The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately five hundred fifty-one kilograms, over twelve hundred pounds, of cocaine, tightly packed in multiple bricks and ready for transshipment.  Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado explained how the operation unfolded from the moment intelligence was received.

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police: “The operation began approximately 10:36 a.m. when the United States Interagency Task Force South, detected and unidentified aircraft over the Pacific Ocean southwest of San Jose, Costa Rica. Four minutes later the aircraft was declared an air track of interest. Over the next few hours the aircraft moved northwards changing direction multiple times towards El Salvador, then Nicaragua and then Honduras. By 2:40 p.m., the aircraft was estimated to be just over one hour from entering Belize airspace. By this time, the operational focus had already been mobilized and strategically deployed in Neuland. At 5:03 PM, airspace clearance was granted and the Belize Defense Force deployed their air asset. At 5:10 PM the Mexican air asset were also granted permission to enter Belize Airspace to support our operation. At 5:21 p.m. Belize Primary Radar confirmed contact with the suspected aircraft approximately six nautical miles east of Carmelita Village heading northeast. At 6:14 p.m., the aircraft landed in Neuland Village, observed deplaning where two Hispanic male person later identified as Paul Valenzuela Usana, and Edgar Aguilar Trinidad, both Mexican nationals. A search of the aircraft revealed multiple bales of suspected cocaine wrapped in plastic. Also intercepted that the landing site was a Chevrolet Suburban SUV occupied by two Belizean nationals. That vehicle has since been impounded as the investigation continues. In total, authorities recovered 535 parcels of suspected cocaine, weighing 1,215.6 ponds with an estimated value of $11,027,800 Belize dollars. Samples taken from the processing of the suspected cocaine has since been submitted to the National Forensic and Science Service Laboratory for Analysis. I must also add from the Mexican nationals authorities also sees approximately 5,000 US dollars and 11,000 Mexican pesos and several electronic devices and evidential material. Both individuals have since been formally arrested and charged for importation of controlled drugs and immigration offenses.”

Two Mexican nationals, believed to be the pilots, were detained at the scene and have since been formally charged and remanded to the Belize Central Prison. Authorities also confirmed that two Belizeans were found in the area as investigations continue.  Even as the operation is being hailed as a major success, investigators are now probing a troubling development linked to the landing site.  A Chevrolet SUV, believed to be connected to the operation, was discovered burnt. Commissioner Rosado made it clear that law enforcement was not responsible for its destruction.  According to Rosado, Customs officials who initially responded to the location were forced to withdraw under unclear circumstances. It was only after that withdrawal that the vehicle was set ablaze, raising serious concerns about the possible destruction of evidence and the presence of additional actors on the ground.

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police: “At 10:45 a.m., the Belize Joint Operations Center commenced active monitoring and lie enforcement officers and the other security services personnel were deployed across the country at the identified areas of interest to monitor the activities in those areas. This decision proved critical for us and effective since at approximately 1:50 p.m. a customs enforcement team operating in Neuwland Village Corozal District encountered an SUV parked  near the coastline. The vehicle was occupied by two Belizean nationals and one Mexican national. And inside the vehicle, officers discovered nine canisters of suspected aviation fuel, a firearm, and a satellite phone. These were clear indicators that the Neuwland Village was the intended landing site of the aircraft. I want to add, as it relates to the narrative that it was law enforcement that burnt the SUV that contained the suspected aviation fuel, that is not so. As I have indicated, it was customs enforcement team that made the interception and given the circumstances that was at hand at the time, which I will not get into the specifics, it was prudent for the customs officers to withdraw. The important thing is that the interaction was well documented. The vehicle was processed by the scenes of crime personnel and will be further processed by the fire department. These actions and the retrieval of items of evidential value should be of great assistance in intended prosecution.”