Last night, we shared the latest developments in the court cases between the police department and the 8 foreigners who were accused of landing that narco-jet on the Coastal Road last September. The cops caught them in the act of trying to use Belizean territory as a transshipment point of almost 3,000 pounds of cocaine. Well tonight, that aircraft and 2 vehicles in which some of the defendants were intercepted are now the property of the Government of Belize.
All 8 defendants were taken back before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts-Anderson for the continuation of an application for forfeiture, which was raised by the police prosecutor. There was a bit of a challenge due to the language barrier. 6 of the 8 defendants were only Spanish speakers, but the assistance of a translator, the forfeiture process was clearly explained to them.
After the police prosecutor finished his submissions to justify the department's request, the Senior Magistrate considered the documents that he submitted as supporting material. She then ruled in favor of the police and ordered that the narco-jet and two vehicles being connected to the accused traffickers are now forfeited. That means that these 3 items are now the property of the Belize Government, via the police department.
The criminal prosecution for the illegal landing of the aircraft, and the attempt at smuggling the cargo of cocaine through Belize, is now the only pending matter against these accused men.
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