El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala, Sun. Sept. 5, 2021– It has been reported that agents in Guatemala’s Anti-Narcotics Information Analysis Subdirection (SGAIA), in conjunction with the Guatemalan Armed Forces, confiscated a number of rifles and numerous packages containing suspected cocaine in El Estor, Izabal.

The illicit items were allegedly transported to the area near the Belize/Guatemala border, presumably through a plane that flew across the portion of the Sarstoon River overseen by Belizean forces.

Initially, it was reported that 25 bales of suspected cocaine and a rifle had been found around 5:30 on Sunday morning. Over the course of the day, however, a local Guatemalan media outlet, Ejercito GT Oficial, continually provided updates on the bust — claiming, at final count, that a total of forty bales of cocaine, five rifles, 300 rounds of ammunition, and seven backpacks with unidentified contents had been found.

Prior to the seizure, regional partners had alerted Belizean law authorities of an airplane suspected of carrying illegal contents that was spotted in the general area of Belize and Guatemala. Belizean law enforcement personnel had made initial efforts to respond to the alert, but due to the location of the illicit items — on the Guatemalan side of the border, were limited in what they could do to track the items. The Belize Police Department expressed their gratitude to the Guatemalan forces that were in the area, who were able to confiscate the incoming narcotics.

The confiscated items were later transported to Puerto Barrios airport in Izabal, where they were later delivered to a marine brigade for further inspection prior to the start of legal proceedings. Guatemalan authorities have indicated that the cocaine that was found totaled approximately one thousand kilograms in weight and was worth more than US$13.5 million.