Last night, we told you how a joint law enforcement team of members of the Belize Defense Force, the Coast Guard, and police traveled to the southwestern edge of the Toledo District to destroy three clandestine coca plantations.
As we told you, Belizean lawmen detected these plantations along the Sarstoon River near the remote Graham Creek Village. They quickly realized that unknown narcotraffickers were attempting to establish cocaine laboratories on Belizean soil, so they organized an operation to cut down and burn approximately 120 thousand plants.
Today, we asked Police Commissioner Chester Williams about that major interdiction effort, and he tipped his hat to the BDF for the excellent reconnaissance missions that led to the discovery. Here's what he had to say:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Credit needs to be given where it is due to the Belize defence Force and their fincos, who are in charge of the border area, in terms of ensuring that our external security is looked after. And as much as yes, some might say, well, they found the plantations a little too late because they have already matured, I don't think so. Certainly, it was found before cultivation, which is important. They went in. They came across the discovery, and we were notified. We did what needed to have been done. We went in and did the destruction along with the BDF. So, kudos to the BDF and their fincos for the excellent intelligence on those plantations. It certainly goes a long way in our narcotrafficker's fight, and so I give credit to them. If it is that there any other plantations out there, and people know about them, we'd like to be notified so that we can do what is right to ensure that our country is not used in planting coca plants for later to develop into cocaine, using our country. So, it goes a long way for us."
Reporter
"Sir, it must distress you to see the brazenness of these transnational criminals to use our border areas to try - because they know it is so remote."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Yes, certainly, and we know that about a year or two ago, coca plants were found in Guatemala, and from the time it was found in Guatemala, we said that if it is in Guatemala, then perhaps, it is also in Belize. So, we have now confirmed that Belize is being used to plant coca plants, and the fact that we were able to intercept through the BDF, we are grateful for that."
Reporter
"Any indication that maybe locals from Southern Belize are involved in the planting?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Yes, we do have a suspicion that there are Belizeans who are involved. We know who those Belizeans are, and we are monitoring them."
