Belize Coast Guard Discovers Drugs and High-Powered Rifles in Northern Crackdown

Over the weekend, the Belize Coast Guard (BCG) moved to crack down on drug traffickers in the north and discovered high-powered rifles and narcotics. On Sunday morning, the BCG searched a patch of mangroves near Deer Caye, an island off the coast of Ambergris Caye, and found an ice box covered with a grey canvas. The seamen then searched the cooler and found three parcels of suspected cannabis, two riffles with empty magazines, and 21 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the BCG, spoke to our newsroom about the operation and his organization’s push to deter illicit activities in the north. 

Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard: “Just off Deer Caye our patrol came upon firearms, ammunition, and an amount of drugs, marijuana. We recovered two firearms. One was an AK-47, a 7.62 rifles. We found ammunition along with that weapon. The other weapon is a M4 carbine rifle manufactured by Colt. These two firearms were checked to see if they were serviceable and they were indeed. We also found marijuana along with them properly packaged and our operations in the area did not sight anyone on that specific island so the items were recovered and they were brought in and handed over to San Pedro Police. As I mentioned this is an ongoing operations focusing in the northern part of the country where we have reasonable cause to believe that there’s an increase in illicit activities in that area.”

Reporter: How do you believe this operation will send a signal or maybe deter the criminals operating or believed to be operating in that specific area? 

Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard: “Well, ultimately, we want to achieve deterrence. We want to prevent illicit activities from occurring in those areas. But we also want to send a signal that we have intelligence on who these players are and we are actively pursuing them. And we are on the trail so we’re heading in their direction. So whilst the deterrence may have some operational gaps I think we can make up in terms of interdicting and seizing these firearms and ammunition. These are very dangerous weapons in the hands of the criminal elements that we are happy we can remove from the streets of Belize.”

Bennett added that the BCG has increased its patrols in the north in recent weeks.