Email

Print

Over the weekend, we saw the most lawless kind of behavior from police officers who went wild on San Pedro, indiscriminately firing their pistols and menacing residents with a shotgun.  Well tonight there is another example of outlaw police behavior caught on cell phone camera.  This time it's not quite so violent, but it is very lawless.  7News has obtained video of police using a patrol vehicle to smuggle contraband products from Botes, Mexico into THE ORANGE WALK DISTRICT.  The video was captured on the Belize side of the river about 6 weeks ago in the village of Santa Cruz. We have a review of it tonight, along with comments from the Commissioner.  Jules Vasquez has the story:â€Â¦

The 35 seconds of footage shows a chain of men carrying packages of contraband items, most likely beer, up from the river to roadside.

It's almost like grocery shopping and the two men play the part of bag boys shuttling the purchases to the waiting vehicle.  Except the vehicle in this case is a police mobile - the purchases are pure contraband, and one officer - plays the part of home maker - attentively arranging the items in the pan of the pickup truck.

Now, they can't say it's a confiscation because then police would be loading up the truck - not the bag riverside run-men - plus Orange Walk customs never received any confiscated items from police.  

It's just plain old contraband peddling and though this footage is six weeks old, the Commissioner hasn't seen it:

Jules Vasquez
"Are you aware of a Botes situation where police officers were caught on cell phone camera smuggling in stuff from Botes into Santa Cruz and they are seen in a police vehicle taking on contraband items into this police vehicle for passage into Orange Walk."

Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police
"I haven't seen it Jules but you could share it with me if you want."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you aware such a video exists?"

Allen Whylie
"I have heard but I haven't seen it."

Jules Vasquez
"I know that it has been in the police department that the professional standards branch has it. My question is it something that interest or concerns you that officers were caught on camera using a police patrol vehicle for the smuggling of contraband?"

Allen Whylie
"Definitely would be a concern to me Jules because if it's wrong doing we will deal with those issues. I mean they are well aware that they should be utilizing the vehicle for those purposes and more so for contraband anything, it's against the law."

Jules Vasquez
"But sir this incident happened 6 weeks ago and no action has been taken against the officers involved."

Allen Whylie
"I'm telling you now Jules share the video with me."

Jules Vasquez
"But you all have the video."

Allen Whylie
"I don't have it sir."

Jules Vasquez
"It's in the police department."

Allen Whylie
"But I don't have it but I'll look into it thank you."

Though it's hard to imagine that the commissioner seriously has not seen the video - we did oblige by sending a copy.  As we understand it, the video was passed unto the Orange Walk police command weeks ago, and the officers identified.  But, as you just saw, the commissioner could not say what, if any action has been taken.  We'll keep following the storyâ€Â¦.