If you follow the news closely you'll remember words like pseudo-ephedrine, phenyl-acetic acid and even methyl-amine. These are all chemicals known as precursors for the production of meta-amphetamines or crystal meth, a highly addictive drug that's wreaking havoc in the United States. Many times in the past these precursors have been shipped from China into the Port of Belize and end up in the hands of customs. But tonight, Cayo police are reporting a discovery of what appears to be chemical precursors brought in not by sea, but by land, most likely through an illegal crossing with Guatemala near the western village of Bullett Tree. We had a look at the illicit cargo today in Cayo:..
Monica Bodden reporting
The 40 foot container had only 10 barrels and san Ignacio police found it along with this pickup parked on the Bullett Tree Road at 12:30 this morning - both vehicles bearing Corozal license plates. Incredibly, both vehicles were parked just a short ways from the village police station. There is credible suspicion that the police were paid to keep an eye on what is at best illicit contraband, and at worse chemical precursors bound for the United States.
Jules Vasquez
"Are you all able to say what the contents of the vehicle are or why the contents are under suspicion?"
Supt. Ralph Moody, O/C - San Ignacio/Santa Elena
"We suspected that these substances might be used for some processing for some sort of drugs and that's the reason why we brought the lab to assist us in verifying what is the contents."
"We suspect that they don't have any documents, we request for it but they didn't produced any documents and the area that they have brought in those containers is no a port of entry. They should have brought it through the border at Benque Viejo Del Carmen."
Jules Vasquez
"So most certainly it is an illicit cargo?"
Supt. Ralph Moody, O/C - San Ignacio/Santa Elena
"Yes it is an illicit cargo."
8 men were found along with the cargo - 7 of them from Corozal and one from Cayo. Today they waited in handcuffs and watched as a team from the Forensic Department arrived to determine what chemical is inside the drums.
The team worked quickly to open each drum and take samples, but after about half an hour the smell of chemicals in the closed container was overwhelming - and they had to take a break when one of the containers started to smoke.
Jules Vasquez
"Do you think these chemicals were designated as precursors for forward movement to the United States for the production of Crystal Meth/Methamphetamine?"
Supt. Ralph Moody, O/C - San Ignacio/Santa Elena
"Yes and based on our investigations we confirmed that they were onward to Mexico. After interviewing one of the persons involved, we confirmed that yes it was going to the Mexican side."
That would likely mean shipment through Botes - in the northeast trafficked all the way from Cayo North. It's a major move and the first time a chemical cargo has been found so far inland - the product of sharp police work by San Ignacio police while the illicit cargo was right under the nose of Bullet Tree police:
Supt. Ralph Moody, O/C - San Ignacio/Santa Elena
"We here in San Ignacio are very vigilant, we try to keep the peace. We try to do our best and keep crime at the lowest."
The result of the chemical tests will be known tomorrow - so until then, it is not confirmed that the barrels contain precursors. The eight men remain detained while the container is under BDF Guard at Camp Belizario.
Police suspect that the men were in the process of ferrying more barrels across from Guatemala through the illegal crossing - and, as we showed you, in the meantime, kept the container basically under the watch of village police.
The police station is about a mile from an unregulated border crossing.
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