7 News Belize

Fugitive Gary Seawell Busted in Esperanza with Grenade & Assault Rifles
posted (February 9, 2010)

The Seawell brothers- Mark, Gary, and Dwayne have been wanted by police in the United States since 2007 for drug trafficking and money laundering. Dwayne Seawell was arrested in February of 2007 at the Miami International Airport whilst returning from Jamaica. He has since pleaded guilty in an Ohio Court and is serving a 17 year jail sentence. And then there is Mark Seawell who has been locked down at the Hattieville Prison since 2007 awaiting extradition. That leaves Gary Seawell -the youngest of the brothers who has been on the run since 2007. That was until 10:15 this morning when he was captured in Esperanza Village along with a live hand grenade. Our 7News team trekked to his remote jungle hide out with police and Keith Swift has the story.

Keith Swift Reporting,
Cayo Police say they found 33 year old Gary Seawell along with his common-law wife Tanisha Ayuso and their four children in this modest one room wooden house located on a mountain top on a remote farm – 4 miles off the main road in Esperanza Village.

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade, OIC - San Ignacio Police
“We gathered information that there were occupying a small farmhouse in that area and we went and executed a search. At around 10:15 San Ignacio Police were conducting an anti-crime operation, about 3 and a half miles on the outskirts of Esperanza Village. During that operation, the police executed a search on a farmhouse that was located in that vicinity. At the time the house was occupied by Gary Gordon Seawell, a 33 year old, entrepreneur of Ladyville, along with his common law wife Tanisha Ayuso of Belize City.”

But Seawell wasn’t the biggest catch – the biggest was this hand grenade believed to be of British origin along with these high power assault rifles – including this M4 Carbine Rifle, believed to be the same one stolen from the BDF in January.

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“Police located four assault rifles, one hand held grenade, an assorted amount of ammunition, a bullet proof vest, and 316.1 grams of suspected marijuana.”

Marion Ali, News 5
“What type of grenade was it, was it one of the same British type?”

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“That is being investigated. One senior officer from the BDF who looked at it commented that more than likely it is one of the British type.”

Keith Swift,
“The M4 Carbine, any information if this was the same M4 carbine that was stolen from the BDF recently?”

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“That has been confirmed as well, that was one of the weapons located.”

Keith Swift,
“Were in the farmhouse were these weapons, were they hidden?”

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“They were at different locations within the house.”

And along with guns and marijuana, there were clothes, lanterns, pots and pans, and a pack of bread inside the house and outside these tiny marijuana plants. They are all signs of life in the house which was hidden almost in the middle of nowhere.

Just how long has Gary Seawell been living and hiding in the hills of Esperanza Village, no one seems to know. We do know that he has been wanted since February of 2007. So has been in the jungle since then is anyone’s guess.

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“I am not certain when Mr. Seawell took up residence at that location. That is being investigated.”

One resident who lives in the remote area told us that she regularly saw Seawell but nothing seemed suspicious.

Keith Swift,
“Have you seen him?”

Resident,
“Yes.”

Keith Swift,
“Anything suspicious?”

Resident,
“Not that really.”

Keith Swift,
“What you mean not that really?”

Resident,
“We just used to see him pass about the area.”

Keith Swift,
“You ever had a conversation?”

Resident,
“Nope, never had no conversation before.”

The one man with answers was probably Anthony Garnett. When we trekked with police to the farmhouse - he was there. He told us and police that he came to secure his belongings.

Anthony Garnett, Detained by Police
“This is my….anyway.”

Keith Swift,
“You live here?”

Anthony Garnett,
“No I don’t live here.”

Keith Swift,
“The allegation is that found Mr. Seawell with all of these guns and it is up here. Do you know anything about it?”

Anthony Garnett,
“I wasn’t here at the time so I don’t know. I am here now when they came and I have this house I am building up so that is what I am bringing up. Unu passed the boards I am bringing up. That is all I can say.”

Keith Swift,
“Do you know Mr. Seawell?”

Anthony Garnett,
“Boss I have nothing to say.”

Marion Ali,
“Are you related to him?”

Anthony Garnett,
“I have nothing to say.”

Police say that Seawell has also been tight lipped.

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“Well Mr. Seawell is being processed at this time and he is being questioned at this time. He has not been saying much so I cannot comment at this time.”

Keith Swift,
“Do you believe these weapons were used in any criminal activity?”

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“I do not know, I have no knowledge about the weapons being used.”

Keith Swift,
“How big a bust is this for you and your department, four assault rifles off the street and a grenade?”

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade,
“Certainly it is a plus for our department because as you are aware of the grenade issues particularly in Belize City so any type of weapons that we take off the street is very important for our department and more so for our citizens.”

Seawell again is being processed and both he and Tanisha Ayuso will be charged. The allegation against the brothers is that they were at the head of a drug ring that used couriers from the Columbus, Ohio area to traffick 163 pounds or 74 kilos of cocaine from Chetumal into the United States. Millions were made and it is alleged that more than US$1 million of their cocaine profits was wired from Columbus Ohio to Belize.

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