PM denies Belize is major drug transit or illicit drug producing country

BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – The Belize government says it has been working very closely with the United States authorities, after Washington earlier this week named it and three other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries among a list of nations designated as major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries for the fiscal year 2025.

“We have been working very closely with the United States government. We work very closely with Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico to try to discourage the use of Belize as a transit point,” said Prime Minister John Briceño, adding that since coming to office in October 2020, the number of planes with drugs “that have landed in Belize has decreased dramatically.”

Earlier this week, President Joe Biden named The Bahamas, Belize, Haiti, and Jamaica among the countries as major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries, including countries that are a significant direct source of precursor chemicals used in the production of certain drugs and substances significantly affecting the United States.

But he said a country's presence on the list is not necessarily a reflection of its government's counterdrug efforts or level of cooperation with the United States,” adding “the list is not a sanction or penalty”.

Briceño said that drug lords with “all the monies available” are now “using the high seas so when they come from South America, they would probably go somewhere that has a coastline like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, probably Honduras. And then from there, then they go straight on to Mexico to the United States”.

Briceño said he is being kept informed by the Minister of Defense and the Minister of National Security, Kareem Musa, on the recent two drug busts by Honduras.

“We are doing our part. Belize is not a transfer point, not anymore. And but right now they're using the high seas and they probably are going through the exclusive economic zone. We have gotten some drones and we're hoping that we can get even bigger drones that can go even farther.

“We're negotiating right now either with Taiwan or the United States to be able to get boats that can go all the way out there. That's what I think. We can help more with the interdiction of drugs passing through our waters going on to Mexico and the United States,” Briceño said.

Meanwhile, four people are due to return to court on November 15, after they were charged with being in possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply following a police raid earlier this week.

Police said that Armando Torres, 35, Mirna Durantes, 36, Delwyn Novelo, 32, and 37-year-old Nigel Neal were detained after law enforcement officials said they had seized 28 kilogrammes of cocaine at a house on Wednesday.

They were arraigned at the Corozal Magistrate's Court, where Torres pleaded guilty with an explanation, while the others pleaded not guilty.

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