Belize Biggest Drug Case Falls Apart

Belize’s biggest drug case involving the landing of an aircraft on the Southern Highway has ended with the defendants freed of the major charges.  The judge’s decision was handed down this morning in the southern session of the Supreme Court in Dangriga town.  Correspondent Harry Arzu was at the courthouse and spoke with defence attorney Dickie Bradley. 

HARRY ARZU

In the case against Sgt. Jacinto Roches, Sgt. Renell Grant, Sgt. Lawrence Humes, Cpl. Nelson Middleton, Customs Officer, Harold Usher and Victor Logan of Independence Village ended today in the southern session of the Supreme Court in Dangriga.  The said persons were charged for facilitating the importation of over eighty bails of cocaine including seventy loose packages.  The incident occurred on November 13, 2010 on the Southern Highway between miles 56 and 57 in the Bladen Area where a plane landed.  It was reported that Roches, Grant, Humes, Nelson, Middleton, Usher and Logan assisted in facilitating the process of landing the plane on the highway.  Their case started on Wednesday, November 14 and more than 30 witnesses were called on the prosecution side before it closed its case.  Leading the prosecution team was Senior Counsel, Cecil Ramirez.  At the close of the prosecution case, attorneys for the defendants namely, Senior Counsel, Simeon Sampson, Dickie Bradley and Kevin Arthurs made a no-case submission which was upheld by the Trial Judge, Dennis Hanomonsingh who ruled that the defendants have no case to answer.

DICKIE BRADLEY

“What transpired is that the prosecution closed their case on Friday, November 30 and because the plane was found empty on the Southern Highway and Assistant Superintendent Robert Mariano from the then formation in PG was one of the main witnesses who gave a clear description where various things were found including the eighty bails that you mentioned which was found in two bundles; forty bails in one spot and the other forty in another spot.  However, the evidence that was presented in court could not be linked to any of the accused persons.  So while the cocaine was found it was a very difficult case to even say whether that plane came in to take the cocaine somewhere else or had brought in the cocaine because we observed from the photographs of the large quantity of cocaine which was valued at one hundred and sixty eight million dollars; it was 2,637 kilos of cocaine – over two tons of cocaine.    The evidence could not be linked to any of the defendants; nobody had seen them around the plane, around the cocaine, there was no fingerprint, there was no kind of evidence to make any linkage; all that could be said coming from Cpl Morales and Special Constables Kenneth Martinez and Mr. Vellez is that they had seen a white van on the road but there was no linkages that could have been established.  Nobody had seen the van stopped, nobody had seen the men come out; none of the items that were in the van, a couple of clothing could have been linked to anything in regards to the matter.  So, I agree with what you reported that the judge, that after adjourning on Friday after hearing both submissions, this morning said that the law is that where a person has been charged with a criminal offense and where there is no evidence, the court has an obligation to bring the case to a close and discharge the men of the allegation against them.  We must remember, that although this is Belize’s biggest drug case, the fact is that at the time that the officers were able to reach the spot on the Southern Highway, the plane was empty and there was no one in sight or nothing could be found that could directly linked to anybody.  In fact there was a delivery truck, as officer Mariano explained to the Court, he saw a white delivery truck with many 30-gallons – some empty, some have in liquid; but who was driving that truck?  Who was moving those items? There was also a green van that the Police in PG took into custody, there was also a grey and turquoise vehicle but who were in those vehicles?  Those are the people who were presumably helping to land the plane.”

Although the defendants were freed of the major charged relating to the important of the drugs and facilitating the landing of the aircraft on the Southern Highway, they are still facing possession of ammunition charges, alleged to have been found in a white van that was stopped and searched in the area at the time of the discovery. 

LOVEFM

Cops accused in drug plane landing acquitted

Back in November of 2010 Police made the biggest drug seizure ever recorded in Belize. Authorities had been alerted to a plane landing on the Southern Highway, by an officer attached to the village of Bella Vista very near to where the plane touched down. The bust amounted to a whopping 2,604 kilos of cocaine; that's translates to 5704 pounds. The cocaine at the time had an estimated street value of $46 million US dollars. It was subsequently destroyed by the Police Department in a process involving the presence of the media and high level officials. Several senior police officers who were alleged to be involved in the transshipment of the drugs were detained. Four of the five police officers were arrested and charged with the importation of a controlled drug by facilitating the landing of an airplane. The customs officer was also charged for possession of ammunition. They were: Sergeant Jacinto Roches attached to the Internal Affairs Desk at the time, Harold Usher, a Boatman at the Customs Department, Corporal Nelson Middleton and Corporal Renel Grant - both of whom had been drivers for the Governor General and Sergeant Lawrence Humes. Corporal Vidal Cajun was also arrested and charged for possession of firearm and ammunition. The men back in July of 2011 were released on bail of fifty thousand dollars apiece. The case was before the Supreme Court and after going through the process, a verdict was handed down this morning by Judge Hanamasingh in the Southern District session of the Supreme Court. Dangriga Correspondent Harry Arzu reported on the outcome of the case which concluded late this morning.

Dangriga Correspondent HARRY ARZU:
Four Police Officers, a Customs Officer, a resident of independence Village, walked out of the Supreme Court today as free men. Sergeant Jacinto Roches, Sergeant Renel Grant, Sergeant Lawrence Humes, Corporal Nelson Middleton, Customs Officer Harold Usher, and Victor Logan  were jointly charged with purposely taking the importation of over 80 bales of cocaine, including 17 loose packages, in December of 2010.  This was in connection with an incident that occurred on November 30th,  2010, where a plane landed on the Southern Highway, between Miles 56 and 57, in the Bladen area, said to be loaded with cocaine. It was reported that Grant, Humes, Roaches, Middleton, Usher, and Logan assisted in  facilitating the process of landing the plane on the highway. The case that got underway on Wednesday, November 14th., called over 30 witnesses to support the prosecution side, before it closed up the case. Senior Council Cecil Renunez was the leader of the prosecution team of three.  Conversely at the close of the prosecution case, attorneys for the defendants, namely Senior Council Simeon Sampson, Dicky Bradly, and Kevin Arthurs, made a no case submission, which was upheld by the Trial Judge Denis Hanomansingh, who ruled that the defendants had no case to answer.  The men went honed relieved, happy despite the minor charge that they are yet facing.
 
Lead attorney for the defendants, Richard 'Dickie' Bradley, today laid the case file open, explaining that the prosecution was unable to place the men at the scene of the crime and noted that no evidence was produced to implicate their involvement. 

DICKY BRADLEY:
The evidence that was presented in court could not be linked to any of the accused persons. So while the cocaine was found it was a very difficult case to even say whether that plane came in to take the cocaine somewhere else or granting the cocaine.  Because we observed from the photographs of the large quantity of cocaine, which is valued at 168 million dollars, 2,637 kilograms of cocaine, over two tons of cocaine. The candidates could not be linked to any of the defendants. There was nothing to link them. Nobody had seen them around the plane, tound the cocaine.  There was no fingerprint. There was no kind of evidence to make any linkage

Bradley further highlighted the circumstances surrounding the bust and possible individuals who were directly linked to the committal of the crime.

DICKY BRADLEY:
The fact is that at the time the Officers were able to reach the spot on the Southern Highway, the plane was empty and there was no-one in sight, or nothing could be found that could be directly linked with anybody. In fact there was a delivery truck.  Officer Mariano explained to the court, he saw a white delivery truck with many thirty gallons, some empty, some having liquid. But who was driving the truck?  Who was moving those items? There was a green van as well that the Police in PG took into custody.  There was also. I think, he mentioned a grey and turquoise vehicle.  But who in those vehicles, who were the people who were helping to land the plane. 

The argument posed by the defense team was convincing enough and so today Harold Usher, Renel Grant, Lawrence Humes, Nelson Middleton and Jacinto Roches were acquitted of the charges and walked out of court free men.

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