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Lawrence Thompson, Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement & Compliance
"These gummies did enter our country through the Belize City port and they were intercepted by officers while doing an examination. Earlier the Comptroller mentioned of risk management initiative that the Customs Department has embarked on. We have enhanced our risk management operations, having an intelligence driven approach, so we work in collaboration and incoordination with our local law enforcement and regional international law enforcement partners to help to stem the flow of these commodities."

Courtney Menzies:
"If you get future shipments from this person, in this person's name, what happens then, do you put extra security and search all of the things they're getting?"

Lawrence Thompson
"Oh clearly, we know that this incident happened and so this person will be flagged if he intends to import any more. Of course we have to recognize that these nefarious actors are constantly monitoring law enforcement and so we have to also be proactive and innovative in our law enforcement approach so while the person we recognize his name and his address, his telephone number and all that, we flag that for high risk for any future consignment that is being imported, understanding also that once these actors recognize that they'll be stopped, they'll try other means, so customs works with its local law enforcement intelligence cells and agencies as well as our regional and international counterparts to stem the flow of these commodities through sharing of information."

Reporter:
"How do you ensure that your own officers are not assisting and probably working with some of these people to let them know, listen, your shipment has been flagged, stand back?"

Lawrence Thompson
"Officers recognize the risk that exist, we have officers that are committed in ensuring that these types of commodities don't come on our streets. The human element will always be a component that is of consideration, that goes whether it's Customs or any other law enforcement, non law enforcement agencies, the human element is something to consider. What I can tell you that the consequence of any of these officers being involved in any of these things is large, means we will prosecute to the fullest if these officers are involved. We have not identified any such incidents and so we are confident that our officers are doing what needs to be done at the frontline. The fact that we're finding these things, understand that we do not have Xray machines and so it is even more difficult for us to find it, so the fact that we found it means that officers are engaging and are searching barrels, searching boxes, going all the way to the bottom to ensure that these types of risk commodities do not pass us."

And he also explained that it wasn't the first time they'd stopped marijuana edibles from entering the country.

Lawrence Thompson, Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement & Compliance
"We have found a lot of illicit activities. We found marijuana in barrels, we've found firearms in barrels, firearm parts, restricted items. People will always try to smuggle things in the country. It's our jobs to try to detect it."

"We have enhanced our risk management, our enforcement and investigation units to be able to stem this type of activity."

"There's been more before. We have intercepted gummies before and we have destroyed these commodities. The intercepts, I do not have the precise dates, but these intercepts have occurred in last year. We do not announce our intercepts. We destroy them and we try to pursue whatever investigation we have, so that we can at the very least disrupt and at the very most prosecute those who are responsible."

Reporter
"Destroy along with police though, right?"

Lawrence Thompson
"Yes, we work with the police for the destruction of these commodities."

Reporter
"What's the quantities of gummies have you seen, the largest quantity?"

Lawrence Thompson
"Well, they don't come in big quantities. What we find are small pockets of little bags that come in. Its not a barrel of gummies. We have not found that. We find them concealed with other commodities and so when we find them, we call in the police, because its suspected laced with marijuana and since they are the authority to prosecute under their jurisdiction, we call them and they get it tested."