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Tonight Gary Seawell, his common-law wife Tanisha Ayuso, and Anthony Garnett are in jail. They were arraigned late this evening in the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court where they were jointly slapped with 11 charges. Those are 2 counts of kept prohibited material for the grenade and bullet proof vest, 4 counts of kept a prohibited firearm for the 4 assault rifles, 3 counts of kept prohibited ammunition, and 2 counts of kept ammunition without a license. Seawell and Ayuso were additionally charged for drug trafficking and drug possession.

They pleaded not guilty to all charges and were remanded to the Hattieville Prison until May 11th. They were un-defended. Police made a request was for a summary trial – which should speed things up. Cayo Police are also holding on to Seawell for an old charge of possession of three kilos of crack cocaine – for which he had been on bail but failed to show up in court for his adjournment hearing. The takedown is the biggest for police in years because Seawell has been on the run since early 2007. In the past six months, police had launched several operations to track him down, but all of them had been unsuccessful.

But after all that time on the run moving – we are told between districts – Seawell was captured without incident. Tonight we’ll revisit his jungle hideout to show you the fascinating story of how a man who was once allegedly at the center of an international drug ring – was living the life of a survivor in the jungle.

Keith Swift Reporting,
This broken down wooden shack high on a hill in Esperanza is what Gary Seawell called home. It is not the grandeur you’d expect a man accused of trafficking millions of dollars of cocaine to be living in but this was home for Gary Seawell, his common law wife and four children – the youngest 5 months old.

Supt. Paul Wade, OIC – San Ignacio Police
“He was there with his common law wife and four young children. Those four young children have been handed over to the relatives. I am not certain when or how long he was residing in that location.”

And for however long he has been there, it was a meagre existence for Seawell who lived the life of a peasant in his jungle hideout: We found no beds – only clothes strewn across the house which were probably rummaged through when police raided the home. There was no light so hurricane lanterns had to suffice – and there were fish coils to ward off mosquitoes.

They cooked on this homemade stove supported by rolls of tine wire and fuelled by this small tank of butane gas outside. There was a cooler and dishes – notably among them were these nursing cups apparently for the couple’s young children. And outside without a washing machine – they had bath pans to do laundry.

It also seems that Seawell made time to exercise because this was his home gym – made out of a tree stomp, a piece of 2 by 4 and a barbell. Neighbours say Seawell rode the three and a half mile journey back and forth from the remote jungle location on a bicycle.

Area Resident,
“I just used to see him pass about the areas. Nope, didn’t have any conversation before yet.”

Police aren’t sure how long Seawell has been hiding in the jungle. The property’s owner Anthony Garnett says the land and house belongs to him.

Anthony Garnett, Charged Jointly with Seawell
“Nobody nuh deh up deh boss. Nobody is there. I am telling you what is going on.”

But police say Seawell was living in the shack – and not just living there – they allege that Seawell has been amassing an armory of assault rifles.

Jules Vasquez,
“Are you able to say what was Mr. Seawell’s level of involvement in the criminal world having at his disposal such high tech weapons, such an armory actually?”

Crispin Jeffries, Commissioner of Police
“Well this is a part of where the investigation is going; why would he be so heavily armed, what was his intention, and what was his mode of operation and his activities in the area in recent months.”

First of all there was this live hand grenade. If you look closely, it says L109a1 – which would make it of British origin.

Supt. Paul Wade,
“One senior officer from the BDF who looked at it commented to me that more than likely it was one of the British type.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Do you believe that the grenade, as the Prime Minister indicated, he believes is one of the 17 or 18 that are believed to be in circulation of the 24 that were stolen?”

Crispin Jeffries,
“The information we have so far is indicating that the markings is similar to those of the British but I have not personally nor has the ammunition technician, Col. Jones, have we sat down and looked at that and made the comparison but we are working very close.”

Then there was this 45 automatic machine gun with 20 rounds of ammunition. There was an M4 Carbine rifle with 2 magazines, it is similar to the M4 carbine stolen from the BDF, an M16 rifle, and this bolt action rifle - all high powered weapons along with a bullet proof vest. The question is – was Seawell equipping himself for a war?

Supt. Paul Wade,
“I do not know. I have no knowledge about the weapons being used.”

But they are now off the streets – and so is Gary Seawell.

Supt. Paul Wade,
“Certainly it is a plus for our department because as you are aware of the grenade issues particularly in Belize City so any type of weapons that we take off the street is very important for our department and more so for our citizens.”

As we mentioned in the story, the third man charged is Anthony Garnett. He told us yesterday he knew nothing about the guns or ammunition. Police evidently believe he did. Also there were four children in the house with Seawell ranging from 5 months to 7 years old. They have been placed in the care of one of the wife’s relatives.