Officers Destroyed Evidence In Drug Plane Landing? ComPol Says, No!

A joint security operation Friday evening intercepted a cocaine shipment in the Corozal District but a vehicle set on fire at an active crime scene hours earlier is now raising serious questions about evidence handling.

A Chevrolet Tahoe loaded with nine canisters of aviation fuel was found at a seafront landing in the Bomba area on Friday morning after customs officers chased a suspicious man who fled during a patrol along the Old Northern Highway. Police detained the men at the scene.

The vehicle was set on fire. The fuel was destroyed with it. A 9-millimetre pistol was also recovered from the area.

That evening, a multi-agency team comprising police, the Belize Defence Force, and the Coast Guard supported by Mexican air assets intercepted a drug plane that landed in the Nuefeld area of Corozal. The pilots were captured and a cocaine cargo was seized. The aircraft has been identified by aviation sources as a Cessna 206, capable of carrying up to 900 kilograms.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Dr. Richard Rosado is rejecting reports that officers deliberately set fire to a vehicle. So, who did?

Speaking exclusively to News 5, Dr. Rosado said: “Contrary to false reports circulating online, the claim that officers deliberately set the vehicle on fire is entirely untrue. This is another instance of misinformation. We will release accurate details later this morning.”

When pressed on who did set the vehicle on fire, the Commissioner did not answer the question directly. “I was with my team on the grounds through the operation along with the minister and CEO,” he said. “Kindly allow us some time to put together the release. In the fullest of time a full press briefing will be done.”