The Belize Police Department has initiated an internal investigation following a significant procedural violation at the Orange Walk Police Station involving mishandled narcotics evidence. The incident centered on approximately one gram of cocaine seized during a law enforcement operation that was never formally logged or transferred to designated exhibit custodians.
According to official reports, the controlled substance was improperly stored in an officer’s personal locker instead of following mandated evidence protocols. Another officer subsequently accessed the locker and removed the material, creating a chain of custody breach.
Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado confirmed the ongoing internal investigation into the evidence handling failure. Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira provided clarification to News Five, stating the missing cocaine had been successfully recovered and accounted for.
Minister Mira attributed the incident to an officer’s failure to adhere to established evidence protocols, emphasizing that drugs should never be left unsecured. He explained that proper procedure requires all evidence to follow a strict chain of custody, ultimately being signed over to exhibit keepers for secure storage.
The internal investigation will focus on ensuring compliance with evidence handling procedures and preventing similar incidents in the future. The case has highlighted the importance of strict protocol adherence within law evidence management systems, even for relatively small quantities of controlled substances.