A drug deal that went badly has left one man in the hospital, and three others in jail. On Saturday afternoon, Orange Walk Police responded to calls of a shooting incident involving Caye Caulker fisherman Alejandro Joseph Pou. But it wasn't just a random shoot 'em up. Turns out that Pou and his son in law had gone to Orange Walk to sell two kilos of cocaine and instead got jacked and shot. Alfonso Noble travelled to Orange Walk to get more.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
Orange Walk Police say that early on Saturday afternoon these men: Jorge Barahona and Jorge Alberto Torres Castro took Jose Luis Rodriguez and his father in law Alejandro Joseph Pou in this pickup truck to an area outside Orange Walk Town known as Playa Maya Inca. Once there they were they would sell two kilos of cocaine to three other men identified as Amilcar Lopez, Eusebio Paredez and Heber Tzack but the deal went badly.
Julius Cantun, Investigating Officer
"The alleged buyers gave the address in Orange Walk, the meeting was arranged here in Orange Walk. They were summoned to the area where the incident occurred and during the process of the transaction, the drug transaction, something went wrong and Mr. Pou received a gunshot wound for which he is now recovering. He was transported to the hospital from the scene where we found an expended 9 milimeter shell. We also recovered the vehicle which is a cream color Toyota pickup which is now impounded at the station.
Later on in the investigation Jorge Barahona and Jorge Alberto Torres Castro were also detained for this shooting incident. The investigation revealed that the two Jorges were the contact people or the middlemen in this drug transaction. Jorge Barahona, who is the owner of the vehicle, he had drove down from Belize City, since he was the middleman, he was the contact person, he had transported Mr. Pou and Mr. Rodriquez who had come by bus transporting the drugs. He had transported them to the location where the alleged buyers were supposed to be waiting.
The buyers have been identified as Eber Tzack, he gives his address as Waer Creek area in Trial Farm in the Orange Walk District. The other is Mr. Eusebio Paredez who gives an address an address as Ladyville in the Belize District and we suspect the triggerman to be Amilcar Lopez whop is also from Ladyville in the Belize District. The triggerman for no apparent reason, for no provocation, pulled out a nine millimeter and opened fire once they were at the location. We believe they had that intention to steal the drugs."
Investigations by police indicate that Rodriguez and Pou had come to Orange Walk by bus with 4 kilos of cocaine. Two kilos were stolen by the would-be buyers and the remaining two were found in a hotel room that was occupied by Pou and Rodriguez.
Julius Cantun,
"We know for a fact that four kilos of cocaine were brought in total. After Mr. Pou got shot, the people responsible, they went away and they took two kilos of cocaine. Then the subsequent investigation led us to recover two other kilos of cocaine which are now also confiscated by the police."
Now police are looking into the possibility that there may be more drugs but they say so far there are no concrete leads.
Julius Cantun,
"At this point in time all we know is that Mr. Pou gave his occupation as a fisherman and all of us know that sometimes fishermen find drugs floating as a result of wet drops. So it is probable that that is the origin of the drug. It is not confirmed, it is not certain yet."
Alfonso Noble,
Is it likely that he may have in his possession more drugs?
Julius Cantun,
"At this point in time we do not have any information that can lead us to that conclusion. However, on the date of the incident, we took the necessary steps to execute searches at his house in Caye Caulker and Rodriquez's house in Belize City. Nothing illegal was found at the time."
And its because of this fact that by all appearances both Rodriguez and Pou did not have the experience in to make the deal work. But while they may have been amateurs, in the eyes of the law there is no such thing.
Alfonso Noble,
Are these men amateurs, amateur drug dealers?
Julius Cantun
"Well I wouldn't be able to say if they are amateur or professional dealers but from what our evidence shows, they are drug dealers."
Today Jose Luis Rodriguez appeared in court on charges of drug trafficking. Jorge Barahona and Jorge Alberto Torres Castro appeared to answer to charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to dangerous harm. Bail was out-rightly denied to the two Jorges since the case against them is indictable. As for Rodriguez the prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that the amount of drugs he is accused of trafficking is in excess of one kilo. All the men were then remanded to the Hattieville Prison until November 3rd. As for Pou police say when he recovers he is will also be charged with drug trafficking. Police are now looking for Eusebio Paredez, Heber Tzac and Amilcar Lopez all to be charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to dangerous harm.
