7 News Belize

Weighing The Weed
posted (January 28, 2016)
Yesterday, we reported on the 4 parcels of marijuana that a joint law enforcement patrol seized near the Village of Consejo in the Corozal District. According to the BDF Commander, it's a hotspot for the trans-shipment of drugs, and today, the Coast Guard High Command briefed the media about this and other drug seizures that they made this month in their step-up joint patrols. Here's Lieutenant Gregory Soberanis, the commander of the Coast Guard's First Fleet, discussing the details of the successful operations:

Lt. Gregory Soberanis - Commander, 1st Fleet
"There were 3 marijuana seizures throughout the month of January 2016; the first was in San Pedro, where Coast Guard patrol was conducting a stake out, when they observed a small vessel behaving in a suspicious manner. The patrol proceeded to intercept the vessel which sped off throwing a small package overboard. The package was retrieved and discovered to be cannabis amounting to 136.4 grams. It was later handed over to the San Pedro police and was labeled as found property. The second seizure also occurred in the area of Consejo, where a joint patrol was conducted with the Customs Department. The joint patrol intercepted a vessel which was believe to be conducting illegal activities. The vessel had two individuals on board. Upon conducting a search of the vessel, 4 packages weighing over six and half pounds of cannabis was found on board. The cannabis is currently secured and will be handed to the Anti-narcotics unit. Yesterday, Coast Guard Marine Patrol, this is a patrol which is a joint patrol with the police and the port authority, inspected a small package that was delivered to one of the water taxi's in Belize City. Upon inspection of the package, it was discovered that it contained 2 baseball-sized compressed marijuana. It was destined for San Pedro, but was intercepted by the joint Coast Guard patrol."

That last drug seizure turned out to be 190 grams - or 6.7 ounces - of marijuana. These joint operations have been ongoing with the Belize Port Authority, the Customs Department, the Fisheries Department, the BTB, and the Police. Also this month, the Coast Guard managed to help Customs make 3 separate seizures, and in today's briefing, Lieutenant Soberanis discussed them with the press.

Lt. Gregory Soberanis - Commander, 1st Fleet
"While conducting operations in Northern San Pedro, a vessel was sighted coming from the direction of Xcalak. It was intercepted by the Coast Guard patrol and on board the boarding party found several uncustom goods on board. The individuals were unable to produce receipts, they were detained and handed over to Customs in San Pedro Town. They were charged $2,400. In the Consejo area, again, the joint patrol with the Customs Department intercepted a vessel and upon inspection they discovered that the occupants had several uncustomed goods on board the vessel. The items were determined to be contraband items. The individuals on board claimed responsibility and were subsequently detained. And out of court settlement was reached at $5,000. Early this morning another joint patrol with the Customs unit in Consejo yielded a discovery of uncustom goods of 20 - 20 pound bags of flour and 1 - 100 bag of flour. These items were determined to be uncustom goods and the individual and items are currently detained by the Coast Guard and Custom patrol."

In these operations, the Coast Guard plays a supporting role, and as soon as the illegal items are handed over to the proper authorities for prosecution, the Customs or the Police lay criminal charges.

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