We report on countless cases of "found property" where police confiscate drugs that were stashed or hidden in abandoned lots and houses. So what really happens to these drugs? Well they are eventually destroyed. We have shown you several drug destructions by fire. One of the more notable ones is the burning of 1, 225 pounds of cocaine that was found in a drug plane in September 2018. Today's destruction didn't quite match that amount and scale but 7news still made it out to an undisclosed location in Western Belize. Courtney Weatherburne has the story.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
These officers and forensic personnel had their work cut out for them today, tediously ripping and sorting through bales and boxes of a year's supply of an assortment of drugs.
Sr. Supt Ralph Moody, Commander, Region 2
"What we are doing is a routine drug destruction. Within the department we have a system where we destroy drugs every 6 months and that would include found property and cases that are concluded within the different courts within Belize. We have cannabis, crack and we also have some substance that was found with a person that is suspected to have some other chemical within it and drugs. As well the person didn't have any licensed to import in within the country."
Reporter
"What would you say is the cost of what's being destroyed here today?"
Sr. Supt Ralph Moody
"I don't have a cost to it. I don't want to exaggerate, but we have a very large amount of cannabis and as well cocaine that is being destroyed. Recently we found a large amount of cannabis within Belize City, so its creating some discomfort within the exhibit room in Belize City, so we need to do drugs destruction regularly."
So with the protection of these officers standing guard, the team laboured all day until every single drug was consumed by the fire.
Police say they plan to do another operation in another 6 months. These drugs were only from Belize City. Caye Caulker and San Pedro police will do their own drug destruction. To ensure the integrity of the process, a court official, a JP, the exhibit room keeper among other officials are present throughout the burning.
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