For decades, Belize has been of critical strategic value to the U.S. military and it was particularly so during the cold war, when the peaceful, democratic and free market Belize was a buffer state against the then - emergent socialist regimes in Central America. And while socialism rose, faded and is now re-surging - the empire is busy fighting bigger battles on other fronts: one in the Middle East and the other right in its own back yard: the so called war on drugs. And it's in that war, that Belize - and its largely under-policed coastline are emerging as critical variables. And that's why a three star Lieutenant General visited Belize today. I found out more.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
The first visit to Belize by Lieutenant General Norman R. Seip, the commander of the Twelfth Air Force Base in the United States is very critical to the U.S. and Belize's ongoing fight against the illegal trafficking of drugs. The three star lieutenant general is significantly involved in the battle in which Belize because of its geographical location is a very critical partner in the overall strategy of the Belize Defense Force and U.S. armed forces to counter attack. That is because forty percent of the narcotics trafficked into North America pass through our territorial waters and the adjacent Caribbean Sea.

Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett, Commander - Belize Defence Force
"And also Belize is also the last place where you would find loads of about two tons passing through. After this it is broken down into smaller packets so it is harder to detect."

Loads of approximately four thousand pounds of cocaine.

Lt. Gen. Norman R. Seip,
"Belize is a strategic partner in the ongoing counter drug operation. Just its location, it's closeness to the other Central American countries and its closeness to Mexico makes it very important to us that we work very closely with the Belize Defence Force in countering narcotics that flow from South America, Central America and into the United States."

The more resources that can be put into Belize the better chances both countries have in winning the war on drugs. In 2007 drug runners operating through Latin America demonstrated how they have become more sophisticated in the illegal activity.

Brig. Gen. Lloyd Gillett,
"12 semi submersible boats that were interdicted and this is a new type of trafficking. I think last year also there was a bus with about twenty tons in Mexico. So the more we try and deter these activities, the more they change and they have more money, they are more flexible. So we always have to be looking at w hat we are doing. See how we can improve, try to improve on the intelligence collection so that we work smarter rather than harder."

Belize Defence Force Commander Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett says in 2007 the air operations have been successful but at sea more must be done in their counter drug efforts that is why in 2008, the U.S. government will be transporting millions of dollars in equipment, vessels including aircraft into Belize.

Brig. Gen. Lloyd Gillett,
"We have been very successful in the air side of the counter drug efforts. We had a few tracks that passed over Belize and landed in Guatemala but we have not had any tracks land in Belize since 2005. So we have been very successful and that is primarily because the U.S. is supporting in providing us information on aircraft that is invading our airspace. The U.S. is providing four fast interceptor boats to Belize, a value of about four million dollars for the entire program. Two them are going to the Coast Guard and two going to the BDF Special Boat Squadron and that will be a very much needed additional capability for us to try and interdict the trafficking of drugs by sea."

Jacqueline Godwin,
I understand of the reasons why you are here in Belize is to help complement our own airwing with some choppers.

Lt. Gen. Norman R. Seip,
"Absolutely, we are looking at a regional modernization program for all of Central America including Belize to bring affordable aircrafts and helicopters into this part of the world that they could have their self sufficient airforces to work their own sovereignty issues. It is very critical to this region. Without Belize, we wouldn't be as effective as we would want to be as we conduct counter-narcotics."

To try and cover the gaps both forces are also looking to enhance their capabilities through the deployment of radars in the region including Belize.

Brig. Gen. Lloyd Gillett,
"One is the regional air modernization programme where they will try and standardize the aircraft in the region so that there are better inter operability between the countries. There is also regional air security system where they are looking to base radars in all of the Central American countries so that we can enhance civilian legal air operations and deter illegal operations in the air and try to curtail drug trafficking in this region."

Shortly after his arrival in the country Lt. Gen. Seip also inspected a guard of honor mounted by members of the BDF Air Wing and Coast Guard.