Last week, the Commander of the Belize National Coast Guard (BNCG) reported that one of the patrols that was out at sea in the Turneffee Atoll Area found what appear to be a bail of cocaine floating in the waters. The patrol retrieved the substance and brought it at the Coast Guard compound in Belize City where a forensic officer tested the substance.
On Wednesday, August 29, 2012, a team of Anti Drugs Unit (ADU) personnel accompanied by Officer Commanding ADU and an officer from the National Forensic Science Service visited the Belize National Coast Guard (BNCG) compound following the report.
The bail was found to contain 35 parcels, of what 21 were wrapped in red tape with the markings “PZ” on them, 10 were wrapped in brown tape without any markings and 4 were wrapped in yellow tape without any markings. Each parcel was weighed individually and to a total weight of 47,480.5 grams or 104.675 pounds.
Presumptive testing was conducted on 50% of the bail which was shown as positive for cocaine. At the conclusion of the processing the Anti-Drug Unit took custody of the drugs and is now awaiting destruction and the subsequent samples taken are to be submitted to the National Forensic Science Service for confirmation analysis of the substance.
