In August, we told you about the immigration officers and driver caught with marijuana coming down from Corozal.
Well, not its the postal service. On Friday afternoon, Corozal police received information that a postman was moving with weed and contraband alcohol.
They went to the post office to search the truck and found both items.
Police told us more.
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
"Where he was spoken to by the officers the reason for them being there which was they suspect that they were carrying illegal stuff and wanted to conduct a search on the van which he did allow and in so doing officers were able to find 9 bottles of assorted liquor in the front portion of the van. Thereafter they conducted a search on the package portion of the van where a transparent package was found near the spear wheel inside the van which when opened contained cannabis amounting to 141.6 grams. As a result he has since been arrested and charged for possession with intent to supply."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"The 9 bottles of alcohol were uncustomed goods, so then is there any presumption that there may have been border jumping involved or contact with some type of border jumping? I am just asking from a quarantine perspective."
ACP Joseph Myvett
"That matter is still being further investigated, based on the route that he took to reach there to Corozal, and the liquor portion has been handed over to the customs department to be dealt with."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Has he offered an explanation for how these things ended up in the vehicle?"
ACP Joseph Myvett
"He offered in respect to the liquor, but he did not offer an explanation in relation to the drugs."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Are you able to share that explanation?"
ACP Joseph Myvett
"He is saying that sometime in December he is expecting to have a function for his birthday, so he was trying to gather some liquor towards that."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"What is the type of liquor?"
ACP Joseph Myvett
"Different types of whiskey and 3 were Smirnoff."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Is it the belief of the police that this sort of smuggling had been happening for sometime? We know that postal trucks are up and down."
ACP Joseph Myvett
"Yes it has. If you are aware that there have been several seizures in the past from other packaging services."
The 141 grammes amounts to just under five ounces.
Postman Willodell Neal was arraigned today in Corozal.
The postmaster general James Gabourel says he will recommend Neal's dismissal. He has been working at the post office for four to 5 years.
