In September of last year, it made headline news when Belizean law enforcement was able to intercept a drug plane that was carrying 41 bails of cocaine. The cops got the drugs, almost 3,000 pounds, which they eventually destroyed. They ended up in a shoot-out with some of the persons who they allegedly found near the scene of the illegal landing. They detained everyone who they believed was connected to the trafficking, and even after all that, 7 of the 8 foreigners who they connected to this trans-national smuggling operation walked free yesterday.
Those now freed of the cocaine charges include the Ecuadoran, 44-year-old Juan Pablo Larrea Cruz; and 6 Hondurans: 37-year-old Terencio Mejia Cruz, 64-year-old Jacabi Yodani Mejia Garcia, 52-year-old Carlos Humberto Henriquez Gomez, and 31-year-old David Noe Orellana Discua, 33-year-old Allan Yovani Mejia Chirinos and 52-year-old Norlan Jose Carrasco Lopez.
In order to appreciate this very surprising outcome, we must take you back to September 9th, 2019, when the incident initially happened. This successful anti-drug operation was a well-planned, well-coordinated effort by the Belizean joint law enforcement teams consisting of members from the different security forces. They acted on intelligence that Sunday Night that an aircraft had left Venezuela, and that it was most likely heading to Belize. Police said that just after midnight, the joint law enforcement team that was dispatched on the Coastal Road spotted the aircraft flying low. They reportedly waited for the plane to be properly landed, and the engine turned off. The Belizean lawmen then pounced on the traffickers before they realized what was happening. However, they didn't simply surrender; they fired at the enforcement team, which returned fire. Though several of the alleged drug smugglers were injured, the Belizean authorities were able to detain everyone. They then escorted the huge quantity of drugs, the occupants of the plane, and the aircraft itself from the landing zone.
This case was supposed to be an easy win for police, but unfortunately, their total evidence did not meet the threshold for the DPP's Office to successfully prosecute all of the accused persons. So, when the case was called up yesterday, the prosecutor informed the Chief Magistrate, that the DPP's Office had instructed him to withdraw all charges against 7 of the 8 accused. 7News got an opportunity to speak with Dickie Bradley, one of their defense attorneys about the shocking outcome:
Richard "Dickie" Bradley - Attorney for Defendant "A plane landed in the Coastal Road, drugs were found, there was shooting, several persons were detained, I think about 8 or so were arrested and charged. The DPPs office went over the files, over and over with a fine-tooth comb, they sent as I think, further instructions and directives to gather fill the gaps in the evidence that was obtained. In the end, as we prepare for case management in front of the chief magistrate, the prosecutor informed the court that for those persons, what little evidence there was and when I say little, I'm stretching it, they just pick up people in the vicinity, they shot somebody, they shot another person, the evidence does not exists okay and I understand the situation with the police, had they perhaps had to be there when the plane actually landed, they could maybe catch whoever come out. They were late on that is not their fault, so yesterday the chief magistrate formally notified the persons that they are free, there is no charge against them. Now you also heard her ask myself and the other attorney that what is the situation in regards to the other matter of deporting the person. When a person is found in the country illegally, there is a procedure and the immigration will charge you for being in our country illegally but that has a statutory limitation and that has gone. These men have been sitting in our prisons for one year and 4 months. As a lawyer, I have advised my clients that they can sue, there is no evidence against that, they can sue but they just want to get out of Belize and put on this bad thing behind them alright. So that is the situation in regard to that."
Inside the courtroom, Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser told the defendants quote, "Based on instructions, the charges are withdrawn against all of you. Because you were in prison, it was not automatic that you were released and sent home. I asked you all to be brought into the city, and in court so, from here, I can tell you officially that charges are withdrawn and that there is nothing else before this court on you all." End quote.
She also told the men who had been on remand for 14 months, quote, "Sorry for all you had to go through." End quote.
At this time, only 71-year-old Miguel Cruz Meseguer, who was identified as the pilot of the drug plane, remains in prison on quarantine. He hasn't answered to the charges as yet.
