Belize's Drug Trade: A Dark Secret

Belize has become a key transit point for drug trafficking, with its coastline, hundreds of uninhabited islands, and geographic proximity to Mexico and Guatemala making it an ideal entry point for smugglers. The country's small population, sparse police force, and lack of military hardware such as helicopters and radar systems have made it vulnerable to powerful drug cartels. While the country has received some support from the US, Belize continues to struggle with the influx of drugs and the associated rise in gang violence.

Cocaine

Belize's anti-narcotics capabilities are limited, with no surveillance radar systems in place to track drug flights. This makes it difficult for authorities to monitor the movement of drugs into and through the country. In addition, Belize's coast guard is largely dependent on the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) for assistance, with 70% of its fleet being financed by the US.

Despite the limited capabilities of Belizean authorities, there have been a number of drug busts in recent years, indicating that the country is grappling with a surge in cocaine trafficking. For example, in a sting operation in 2019, authorities confiscated 1,210 parcels of cocaine from an aircraft that took off from Venezuela and landed near the village of La Democracia. This was followed by a shootout, which led to the arrest of six individuals from Honduras, Mexico, and Ecuador.

Belize has been identified as a significant transit country for illegal drugs originating from South America by the US State Department International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. In 2011, Belize was added to the US "blacklist" of major drug transit countries, and it has remained on the list since. The country's limited law enforcement capacity and strategic location make it vulnerable to drug trafficking activities.

The cocaine trade in Belize appears to be controlled largely by foreign actors, with Mexican cartels playing a significant role. However, local Belizean gangs have also become involved in the drug trade, fighting over the movement of cocaine through the country. This has led to a series of drug-related homicides on land and at sea.

To combat the drug problem, the Belizean government has taken a hardline, militaristic approach, seeking assistance from the US, Canada, and the UK to strengthen its military and police forces. However, the effectiveness of this approach has been questioned, as similar strategies have failed in neighbouring Mexico and Guatemala.

Marijuana

In 2017, Belize amended its Misuse of Drugs Act to decriminalize the possession and use of up to 10 grams of marijuana on private property. This amendment placed Belize at the forefront of Central American countries moving towards legalized cannabis consumption. However, the law does not address how marijuana can be obtained, as it remains illegal to grow, buy, or transport it.

In 2022, the Belizean government passed the Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Control and Licensing Bill, which outlined a framework for the full legalization of marijuana and industry guidelines for the legal cultivation and sale of the plant. However, the Council of Churches, long-standing opponents of marijuana legalization, gathered enough signatures to force a referendum on the issue. The referendum was tentatively set for September 2022 but was cancelled due to the projected $5 million cost.

While the full legalization of marijuana in Belize is currently on hold, the country remains one of the more progressive Central American nations regarding cannabis legislation. The future of marijuana legalization in Belize is uncertain, but it is clear that the issue is a complex and highly debated topic.

Heroin

Belize is a transit point for heroin en route to the US and Mexico. Mexican cartels control the flow of heroin through the country, hiring locals to smuggle the drug across the border. However, there have been few seizures of the drug, suggesting a downward trend in its use in destination markets and limited demand in Belize.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1990, heroin is classed as a narcotic drug, alongside opium, cocaine, and cannabis. Possession of more than 2 grams of heroin is deemed to be linked to drug trafficking and carries a penalty of 2 years in prison, a BZD$75,000 (USD$36,600) fine, or both.

Belize's geographical location and inadequate law enforcement resources have made it an ideal transit point for drug trafficking. The country's large areas of unpopulated land, as well as its proximity to Mexico and Guatemala, have contributed to its role in the drug trade. While Belize has taken steps to combat drug trafficking, such as increasing its military and police capabilities with the support of the US, Canada, and the UK, the country continues to struggle with the influx of illicit drugs.

In addition to heroin, Belize is also a major transshipment point for cocaine and a small-scale producer of cannabis for local consumption. The presence and influence of drug cartels have led to a sharp increase in crime, with the intentional homicide rate more than doubling between 2000 and 2011.

Synthetic drugs

Belize is increasingly being used as a transit point for the precursors used in synthetic drug production, which are destined for Mexico. Belizeans are hired to move these precursors, which originate in Asia, through European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. Precursors entering the country from Guatemala have also been seized, indicating a growing local market dominated by gangs.

Belize's role in the synthetic drug trade is part of a broader issue of drug trafficking in the country. Belize's geographical location, open borders, free trade agreements, and large unpopulated tracts of land have made it an ideal transshipment point for drugs bound for the US market. The country has a long history of drug trafficking, dating back to the 1960s when marijuana cultivation began in the districts of Corozal and Orange Walk.

In recent years, Belize has become a major transit point for cocaine, with an estimated 10 tons of cocaine passing through the country each year. The country's islands and limited law enforcement capabilities create opportunities for drug traffickers to move drugs and other illicit goods through its territorial waters. While the cocaine trade appears to be controlled largely by foreign actors, local Belizean gangs have begun fighting over the movement of the drug, leading to a series of drug-related homicides.

To counter the drug trafficking threat, Belize has adopted a hardline, militaristic approach, similar to the US's 'War on Drugs' policy. The country has received support from its allies, including the US, Canada, and the UK, to strengthen its military and police forces. However, the effectiveness of this approach has been questioned, as it has failed to produce lasting positive results in neighbouring countries such as Mexico and Guatemala.

As an alternative, it has been suggested that Belize could focus on developing its infrastructure and social programs or explore the possibility of drug legalization to combat the drug problem.

Drug trafficking

Belize's unique geography, with its long coastline, hundreds of uninhabited islands, and access to the Gulf and the Caribbean, makes it an ideal transit point for drug trafficking. The country's small population, limited resources, and weak military have made it vulnerable to powerful drug cartels, particularly those from Mexico, who have taken over the trade from Colombian cartels.

Belize's northern border with Mexico, its western border with Guatemala, and its access to the Caribbean make it an attractive route for traffickers moving drugs towards the US market. The country's porous borders, sparsely populated geography, and weak security forces have made it easy for drug cartels to operate. The traffickers use light aircraft and fast boats to move drugs, particularly cocaine, through Belize into Mexico and the US.

Belize has become a key part of the "funnel" of drug trafficking through Central America, with as much as 90% of the cocaine that reaches the US now passing through the region, according to US assessments. Belize's role as a transit point has led to it being added to the US "blacklist" of countries considered major drug producers or transit routes.

The country's small population and limited economic opportunities have contributed to the problem, with some locals turning to drug trafficking and related activities as a source of income. The Belizean government has struggled to combat the drug trade due to limited resources and corruption within law enforcement and the military. While the US has provided some assistance, including equipment and training, drug-fuelled gang violence has continued to increase, particularly in Belize City.

In addition to cocaine, marijuana has been cultivated and trafficked in Belize since the 1960s, when sugar cane growers turned to marijuana production due to declining sugar prices. More recently, the country has also become a transit point for heroin and synthetic drugs, as well as a market for cocaine and cannabis.

The Belizean government has adopted a hardline, militaristic approach to counter the drug problem, seeking assistance from the US, Canada, and the UK to strengthen its military and police forces. However, critics argue that this approach has been ineffective in neighbouring countries like Mexico and Guatemala and that Belize should consider alternative strategies such as drug legalization and investment in social programs.

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