By Belize Live News Staff: A smuggling operation may have been exposed within the Customs Department after a package containing 15 pounds of premium marijuana was intercepted by a sharp-eyed officer, 7 News reports.
The package, disguised as bath products, was flagged after the officer received suspicious requests from two colleagues — a male and female officer — urging him to process the shipment without delay. However, the box was addressed to someone else entirely.
Upon inspection, the officer discovered multiple plastic bags of cannabis, not the lotions and soaps he was led to expect. He alerted his supervisor immediately, triggering an internal investigation.
Security footage reportedly shows the female customs officer entering the facility shortly after the call, raising further red flags. She has since reported sick and has not returned to work. Investigators believe the officers may be tied to an ongoing smuggling ring that uses the freight system to transport high-value cannabis into Belize.
With US$800 an ounce street value, this bust could be one of the most valuable interceptions in recent history. The investigation is ongoing, and criminal charges may follow.
