The information in the notebook is only one part of it though, how about the local players involved in the landings of these drug planes. There is an elaborate network specifically up north. So police are bringing down the pressure to squeeze them out through intense operations in Orange Walk and Corozal. In fact there was an operation today and our information is that members of the GSU, SPU, MIT and other units detained 45 persons. The team also confiscated several items. Today Acting Commissioner Chester Williams told us more about these operations and also responded to the speculation that a Shipyard resident may be one of those involved in these illegal plane landings. Here are his comments.
Chester Williams, Acting Commissioner of Police
"What we are doing now is to launch intense operations in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts with a view to deter those persons who are involved, we are going after those we believe are involved as well as other persons who may be involved in other illegal activities in the Orange Walk district as you know recently we have a gang flare up where persons have been killed and those are issues which we are addressing a part of our operations. We want the people of Orange Walk town as well as Corozal to feel safe, moving around within their respective communities and as police department it is our duty to provide that semblance of safety to them."
"We have another ongoing operation today in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts and we have detained some persons investigation is being conducted and they will be interviewed to ascertain certain information and at the end of our investigation if there is nothing against them they will be released and if we come up with anything that can lead to them being charged for any offense then that will be done as well."
Reporter
"Sir finally for me on the topic of these operations up north, this case with Abram Friesen, he was charged with tampering with a firearm without the permission from the Compol, I know it is a legit charge, it is the law but it seems like strange and unusual charge to pin someone on, can you say if this person Mr. Friesen or you are looking into him being connected to those same illicit drug operations or those same suspected drug plane landings in the shipyard area?"
Chester Williams
"I'm not going to pinpoint any particular person to the illegal landings of planes in the northern districts because to do so without proof will be defamatory but as part of our operations we go to the homes of persons we believe are involved as well as persons who may not be involved but just because we are conducting operations we go to different homes and conduct searches, and as much as you say the charge is strange, there are many laws in the books that the police have been very reluctant to enforce and we feel the need to enforce this piece of law because it is important. One can't be allowed to alter a firearm 'willy-nilly' because then you can easily turn a semi-automatic weapon to an automatic weapon."
Police are also focusing on the gang warfare in northern Belize.
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