Tonight 7News is investigating a story of police high-level interference that carries the stench of scandal - and the aroma of marijuana. According to multiple sources, on Tuesday afternoon San Ignacio police received information that a vehicle was coming from Arenal loaded with a sack of weed. They got the plates on the pickup and police set up a checkpoint in Santa Elena. But when the vehicle with the license plates arrived, it turned out to be a vehicle with private plates attached to the Special Patrol Unit. The officers reportedly confessed to have a few contraband beers and firecrackers, but the intelligence said marijuana, so police took the vehicle to the police station to search it.
But when they got there, 7News has received reports that a senior officer from Belmopan called and told the cops doing the search to release the vehicle immediately. Now, by this time police had already picked up the strong scent of marijuana in the pan of the pickup. But, the senior officer - as we understand it - was insistent that they release the SPU vehicle immediately or face consequences. With that, the police let the pickup go -carrying its cargo of contraband and very likely a sack of marijuana on board.
We tried to reach Acting Commissioner Russell Blackett for comment but could not. We'll keep following this story.
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