The new Commander of the Belize Coast Guard, Elton Bennett, confirmed that their 39-foot Columbian vessel had been stolen. Bennett told us that the mastermind behind the heist is believed to have a military background.
According to the information received, around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2011, a group of thieves swam toward the Belize Coast Guard’s headquarters in Ladyville, unhooked the vessel and pulled it out further into the sea.
At this time a team of guards spotted the movements and started firing at the thieves, but it was too late. One of the thieves climbed on board the vessel and started the engine; another vessel, a getaway skiff, appeared, and the two boats escaped.
The thieves headed in a southerly direction and were not seen again. The Coast Guard enlisted the aid of a civilian aircraft to aid their search party.
The vessel was discovered hidden in some mangroves, fully intact, in the Southern Cayes area (located near Dangriga) on Tuesday, October 11, at approximately 12:00 noon.
Bennett explained that this was the first bold theft occurring at their base in Ladyville, and reaffirmed that additional security measures are now being taken by their department to deter any such reoccurrence.
Bennet said that the police have detained two persons for questioning and that the prime suspect has not been caught as yet.