When we left the story of the drug plane on Friday, police had 6 men detained, no drugs detected, and one bullet riddled Beachcraft to get off the road. Well, the plane has been removed, they haven’t found any drugs and 8 men were charged today. It was an emotional sendoff for the families of the eight Orange Walk men: they are forty four year old Anthony Thurton, twenty two year old Luis Novelo, eighteen year old Irvin Cantun, nineteen year old Victor Torres, twenty two year old Roy Lanza, forty four year old Arnoldo Rivas, thirty nine year old Cesar Canche and fifty year old Ricardo Rivera were taken to court.
Rivera was allegedly the driver of the delivery truck police say was used to refuel the plane after it landed. He had to be placed in the rear of the police pickup truck because of the gunshot injuries he received during the exchange of gunfire between BDF soldiers and the suspects. The eight have been charged for conspiracy to landing aircraft, landing of aircraft, control of aviation fuel, and obstruction under the Traffic Act. None of the charges are drug related as no drugs have been found. They all pleaded not guilty.
Our colleagues from Channel 10 in Orange Walk were at Orange Walk’s Magistrate’s Court and assisted with this story.
Supt. Robert Mariano, Orange Walk Police
“At this time we still have one Zacarias Copo who is the owner of the small truck. He is still wanted by the police and the investigation continues and we are still looking for some other persons from Orange Walk who we believe were connected also in the landing of that aircraft.
We have evidence that the drugs are still in the country. I cannot at this
time divulge the location where we believe the drugs are at. But what is more important to the police is to take off that huge amount of drugs off our streets.
Yes we have information that Mexicans were involved in this operation. As far as I am concerned, nobody at all, force was used against them, not even one of those suspects. As a matter of fact, statements were recorded from those who gave statements in the presence of a Justice of the Peace. So when they were interrogated, a Justice of the Peace was present.
The biggest case that I see is the landing of the aircraft and the conspiracy to land the aircraft and the fine for that is something around $5,000 per offense.
We are still conducting investigation, as I have mentioned earlier, and until we are satisfied that we have followed up on every lead or information, then the case will be closed. But meanwhile the police is still conducting investigations.”
The eight have been remanded to Hattieville Prison until April eleventh. The police would not comment on a question when asked if one of the accused did confess. The police did say that they have an idea of who is the mastermind, but because they are still in the preliminary phase of their investigation they cannot say who that suspect is. Orange Walk police say they are also following up on reports that another plane may have been involved. But at this time there is no evidence to suggest that is the case. Police say while no drugs have been found they believe it was one ton that was transported.
