Police Torch Massive Drug Haul; Vape Mods Spared Over Safety Risks

Earlier today, police torched a massive cache of illegal drugs, everything from cocaine and crystal meth to cannabis and even cannabis‑infused candies. But nearly four hundred vape mods didn’t make the flames because lithium batteries make them a safety hazard, so they’ll be destroyed separately on advice from the Department of the Environment. Before the mixed haul was fed to the incinerator, Superintendent Hector Rodriguez made sure every item was checked, verified, and accounted for.

 

Supt. Hector Rodriguez, Officer Commanding, Prosecution Branch

“There are several types of drugs that will be destroyed. We have cocaine, we have marijuana (cannabis), we have crystal meth, we have cannabis-infused candies that will be destroyed. The forensics persons, Ms. Parks, will be testing at random. It’s not everything that will be tested. She will decide which one will be tested. Any questions, anything? I ask that you tick off as you go along, just so that everybody could be on the same page and we verify that whatever is on the list is what’s [there]. There’s one item, Item 439. I think it was scratched off, Item 439, that has been removed from the list. There are several vape mods that are also on the list. We will not be destroying those here at this event because of the lithium batteries that are inside. The Belize [Waste] Control does not want us to destroy those in the fire because it might cause problems. We have over three hundred and eighty-eight vape mods that were to be destroyed, but because of safety reasons we will not be destroying it here because they contain lithium batteries, liquid, as well. So that will be destroyed at a separate event, based on advice from the Department of the Environment.”

 

It’s all part of a careful, controlled effort to responsibly dispose of dangerous substances while protecting both the public and the environment.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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