The Belizean Cartel Conundrum: Understanding The Presence Of Drug Trafficking Organizations

Belize is a small, sparsely populated country in Central America with a weak military and police force. Its long coastline, rugged geography, and lack of security infrastructure make it an ideal gateway for drug trafficking. Mexican cartels have been using light aircraft and fast boats to move South American cocaine through Belize into Mexico and, ultimately, the United States. Belize's role as a smuggling corridor has led to a surge in gang violence and a growing influence of cartels in the country. The country has received support from the US, Canada, and the UK to strengthen its security forces, but the drug trade remains a significant challenge.

Belize's role as a smuggling corridor

Belize's proximity to Mexico and other Central American countries has made it a convenient transit route for drug cartels. Traffickers use light aircraft and fast boats to move South American cocaine through Belize into Mexico, avoiding detection by the Mexican army and navy patrols. The country's limited security capabilities, including a lack of radar systems and basic military hardware, make it challenging to combat these criminal activities effectively.

The issue of drug trafficking in Belize gained prominence in 2011 when the Obama administration added the country to the annual "blacklist" of nations considered major drug producers or transit routes. This recognition highlighted the growing influence of drug cartels in the region and the need for increased efforts to combat the issue. Belize's addition to the list was a significant turning point, as it indicated that the country was becoming a significant link in the drug supply chain to the United States.

The impact of drug trafficking in Belize is evident in the escalating gang violence, particularly in Belize City. The abundance of cocaine on the streets, often used as payment to local contacts, has contributed to a rise in homicides and other crimes. Furthermore, there are indications of corruption within the country's security forces, with reports of police involvement in facilitating drug trafficking activities.

Belize's small population and limited resources make it challenging to counter the influence of powerful drug cartels effectively. While the country has received security assistance from the United States, including equipment and training, it continues to struggle against the influx of drug-related crimes. The situation in Belize underscores the complex nature of the drug trade in the region and the need for a coordinated response involving multiple countries to effectively disrupt the activities of drug cartels.

The Belize government's response

Belize's government has been responding to the presence of Mexican drug cartels in the country, which has become a significant issue due to its small size, limited resources, and proximity to Central American countries experiencing high levels of drug-related violence.

Belize has received support from the United States, including approximately $15 million in security assistance since 2008, in the form of vehicles, equipment, and training. This aid is part of a larger commitment of nearly $2 billion in counter-narcotics aid that the US has provided or pledged to Mexico and Central America. However, despite this assistance, Belize still faces significant challenges in combating the powerful drug barons. The country lacks essential resources such as a radar system to track unauthorized flights, helicopters, and basic hardware for its military, and even gas for police vehicles.

Belize's security forces have also been criticised for their lack of coordination and internal challenges in maintaining a united front against cartel activities. There have been allegations of corruption, with some officials accused of facilitating the arrival of drug planes from South America and sharing inside information with traffickers.

In response to these challenges, the Belizean government has affirmed its commitment to fortifying borders and intensifying efforts to combat the cartels' influence, particularly in regions like Corozal. The government has also expressed the need to prevent cartel agents from entering the country and cut off their local connections. However, there are concerns about whether the authorities fully comprehend the scale of the infiltration issue, and some critics argue that the government is either in denial or using strategic distraction to avoid tackling the problem head-on.

Drug trafficking in Latin America

In recent years, Mexican cartels have dominated the drug trade into the United States, taking over from Colombian cartels. However, Mexico's brutal drug war has pushed some of the drug trade into smaller, weaker nations in Central America, including Belize. Belize's long coastline, jungle swamps, and airstrips make it an ideal gateway for drug traffickers to smuggle South American cocaine into Mexico and ultimately, the United States. The traffickers use light aircraft and fast boats to move the drugs through Belize, taking advantage of the country's small population, ill-equipped security forces, and lack of radar systems to detect unauthorized flights.

Belize has been added to the US "blacklist" of states considered major drug-producing or transit countries. The country faces challenges such as escalating gang violence, especially in Belize City, and corruption within its security forces, with reports of officials facilitating the arrival of drug planes from South America.

The major drug cartels in Latin America are Mexican and Colombian, and they generate billions of dollars in wholesale drug proceeds each year. Mexican cartels pose the greatest organized crime threat to the United States, with powerful groups like the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and Los Zetas Cartel. These cartels have also penetrated local governments and exploited vulnerable populations in countries like Cuba and Venezuela to facilitate their drug trafficking operations.

Latin America and the Caribbean have the world's highest crime rates due to the concentration of drug trafficking, with murder rates surging in Mexico since the intensification of the Mexican Drug War in 2006. The United States has provided security assistance and funding to countries in the region, such as Belize, through initiatives like the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) and the Merida initiative, to combat drug trafficking and strengthen law enforcement.

The US's 'War on Drugs'

The United States' War on Drugs is a government-mandated operation that began in the early 1970s. The initiative includes a set of drug policies intended to discourage the production, distribution, and consumption of psychoactive drugs.

Origins

The term "War on Drugs" was popularized by the media in 1971, shortly after President Richard Nixon declared drug abuse "public enemy number one". Nixon's strategy involved both treatment and interdiction, and he pledged to ask Congress for a minimum of $350 million for the anti-drug effort.

Impact

Since the War on Drugs was declared, presidential administrations and Congress have generally maintained or expanded Nixon's original initiatives, with the emphasis on law enforcement and interdiction over public health and treatment. The War on Drugs has contributed to a systemically unequal prison system that continues to oppress Black and Brown people today. It has also been criticized for its negative impact on social determinants of health, including housing, education, income, and employment.

Continuation

The War on Drugs has continued into the 21st century, with a focus on fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. In 2023, the US State Department announced plans to launch a "global coalition to address synthetic drug threats", and the head of the DEA cited fentanyl as the "most devastating drug crisis in our nation's history."

Belize's police and military capabilities

The Belize Police Department, the country's national police force, has a history dating back to 1886 when it was known as the British Honduras Constabulary. Over the years, the force has undergone reorganisation and modernisation, with Belizeans assuming positions of authority after independence. As of the early 1990s, the police force had an authorised strength of approximately 500 officers, with a ratio of about three police officers per 1,000 inhabitants. The force is divided into territorial divisions (Eastern, Central, and Western) and operational branches (General Duties, Crime Investigation, and Tactical Service). While they have received training and equipment from the US, they lack the resources to effectively combat drug cartels.

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) was established in 1978 and assumed the non-military responsibilities of the Police Special Force. However, the BDF faces significant equipment shortages, lacking even basic hardware such as helicopters.

Both the police and military have been implicated in corruption scandals, with officials facilitating the use of Belize as a transit point for drug trafficking. This has further hindered their ability to effectively combat the drug trade and protect the country from the influence of Mexican cartels.

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