Customs Drug Bust Sparks Major Probe; Union Leader Responds to Allegations

A major investigation is underway at the Belize Customs Department after over one hundred pounds of marijuana were discovered in early April, hidden among packages shipped from the U.S. What looked like ordinary household goods turned out to be carefully wrapped parcels of cannabis, raising red flags about a possible high-level smuggling operation with inside help. Now, the investigation has taken a dramatic turn. On Monday, Police Commissioner Doctor Richard Rosado hinted that Public Service Union President Dean Flowers might be connected to the case, suggesting that his phone number could be linked to the probe. Flowers has strongly denied any involvement. Today, when asked whether he knew of any union leaders being arrested in connection with the investigation, Flowers didn’t hold back. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“I didn’t see any such report. And so I do not wish to comment on something that I’m not aware of. I to the best of my knowledge, no union leader was detained. None can and will be detained, And I can say to you, the investigating officers, it would be prudent for them to properly brief the commissioner and for the commissioner to give a press conference to express to this nation where they are with that. But I will say this, my brother, I’ve walked a straight road, especially when I took up this leadership, and I will not allow anybody to try to show low blows, shade on my character, I will not allow it. It will not work with Dean Flowers. Dean Flowers is a man of his word. That’s all I got my word. And when I choose to lead people and defend their rights and the rights of their children, because what we do, we’re fighting for good governance. I will not compromise myself. And so as I stated, I know that this matter will be drawn out and he will have to respond, but I encourage him to be very careful because his investigating officers are on record, are on record this associating whatever number he’s talking about.”