And while Aragon says he cannot discuss police intelligence, he also couldn't say much about the eight drug planes that have been found abandoned or burnt in the north since November of last year.
It's a troubling public security issue, but police haven't been able to share any coherent public information about what's driving the narco-traffic this way and how it is fueling local drug related violence.
Most of it has been centered on the Orange Walk District, but Aragon would only refer elliptically to drug organizations, shying away from using the word cartels:..
Reporter
"As junior minister in police and area representative for Orange Walk, what are your thoughts on the plane landings in that municipality for the past year?"
Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, National Security
"That is always a concern, I mean these are some serious, serious criminal activity, you know. It's not the stealing of a sweet in the store, you're talking about drug trafficking and it's a serious concern for national security, a serious concern for the police department because these are the things that if we don't put a check on it will lead to greater issues in the very near future and I think that we have to look at it and it's not so easy, but we as a department with the resources and technology we have do what we can. But I do believe that there is more that can be done and we must do more."
Reporter
"Sir, but over the past months, there have not been any concrete leads or evidence from the police department to remedy this situation. Does it create a black eye for the department or what are your thoughts on that issue?"
Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, National Security
"All of these of these things that are happening are happening on clandestine airstrips, et cetera. The thing is that the police department has a tremendous task to deal with here, you are talking about drug trafficking, you are talking about drug organizations that are in collusion. It's not only a local issue, it happens here locally but it has implications elsewhere and connections elsewhere and therefore it is challenging when it comes to the investigation of all this. But a lot of this has to do with intelligence and these things cannot be discussed on the media."
In other words, police are pretty much clueless.
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