113 kg plus of Cocaine Found on Basil Jones Beach, 18 kg Found at Bacalar Chico
As a result of information received, the San Pedro Police were escorted by Hol Chan Marine Reserve to the Basil Jones area. In this area, which is about 13 miles north of San Pedro Town, they met Gregg Smith. Smith, a biologist who lives in the area, handed over a sack containing 19 packages of suspected cocaine. The sack washed up on the beach near his home. A search in the area revealed two more sacks containing 20 sealed packages of suspected cocaine. Further checking near Rocky Point revealed two more sacks both containing 20 sealed packages. These sacks are suspected to be from a wet drop.
Some time later the Dragon Unit from Belize City arrived along with the Belize Defence Force who provided transportation. The sacks of suspected cocaine were handed over to the Crime Investigation Branch.
The five sacks contained 99 packets which were about eight inches long. After testing the substance was confirmed to be cocaine and weighed 113 kilos and 240 grams.
On Monday, 11th February, 1997, Between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon the San Pedro Police along with Department of Fisheries personel conducted several searches in the Bacalar Chico area. Bacalar Chico is about 20 miles north of San Pedro Town. 17 packages of cocaine were found, some of which were already desolving due to exposure to water.
The 17 packages weighed 18 kg or about 39 pounds. The matter is under police investigation.
