Over twelve hundred pounds of cocaine gone just like that, in thick clouds of smoke. Today, the police department held a drug destruction, only three weeks after their last one. And in both cases, lawmen were caught allegedly facilitating the landing of the planes.
Just like last time, the police convoy set out before dawn and they were done before midday.
And according to ACP Alford Grinage, they now have a smoother process which allowed them to vaporize 25.5 bales of cocaine in a short span of time.
But just like any drug destruction, there were witnesses, samples tested and a briefing by the operations commander. Courtney Menzies traveled west today and has this story.
1,277 pounds of cocaine went up in smoke today at an undisclosed location. Police headed out of Belize City around 5:30am and by 9:30, all 25 and a half bales found in the Hidden Valley area were destroyed. In Belmopan at the police's HQ, ACP Alford Grinage gave us the rundown of the process.
ACP Alford Grinage - Operations Commander
"Upon reaching the location all the drugs that was found initially was shown to the witness after which each parcel was taken out of the bags, they were presented to the forensic personnel who take samples. You were there at the location where you see samples was taken to ensure that the product that is in the package is the same drugs that is found. And after that it was cut and thrown into fire so that it could be destroyed."
These drugs were the ones found on November 30th, two days after the Cessna Centurion crash landed in the Mountain Pine Ridge area. And with the discovery of the cocaine came the capture of the Hidden Valley 6 which included Police Corporal Eric Young. But even though one of their own is now behind bars, ACP Grinage said it's a win for Belize.
ACP Alford Grinage
"We are happy that we managed to get the drugs first of all, every little drugs that we get, I know this is a small dent in the drugs world, but it's significant for us because it is drugs that will not be going back for consumption by the public. So that was significant for us as well as we have disclosed local persons who are involved in drug trafficking, including one of our own who has been charged for this offense as well so it's a significant find for us. It takes a lot, as you know, I was leading that team that was searching for the drugs in the Hidden Valley, it was a tremendous task that we had to go through but we knew that we had to come up with the drugs, we knew that those persons were involved and we had to prove to the public that we had evidence upon these people so it was a success for the public and the police department."
But it's critical for counter narcotics teams to operate with an absolute level of operational secrecy. And when that is compromised by cops who feed info to the narcos, making busts can become like chasing the wind. Still, ACP Grinage explained that they must trust that the officers will do the right thing.
ACP Alford Grinage
"Police selection will always be the same, like what commissioner always says in interviews, police officers are not angels, we are not separated from the public, we have been persons from the public, it's just that we have to continue to champion to them about the integrity, honesty, and that we can trust them because the public depend on us at all time to ensure that our integrity is at a high standard. But to tell you the truth, I'm sure this will not be the first or the second or the last time that law enforcement nor persons of a national security are involved in these types of activities, I believe the cartels do need us, do need persons from our end, national security officers, in order for them to carry out this mission so it won't be the first or the last."
