Charges reduced in Blue Creek ‘drug plane landing’ case

By Aaron Humes: Former commanding officer of the Orange Walk Police Formation, Superintendent David Chi; constable Norman Anthony; Peter Friesen Jr., a Mennonite of Orange Walk, and Mexican nationals Eli Figueroa Nunez and Azariaz Manzano, were arrested and charged with drug trafficking in the case of an illegal plane landing in the Blue Creek area last September.

But the news is now that, after a hearing in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on Monday before Senior Magistrate Patricia Arana, Friesen has been released and the charges against the others reduced to summary matters to be tried in the lower court.

The plane was found to be carrying some 226 pounds of cocaine valued at $14 million.

Friesen’s attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley told News 5 on Monday that the charges against Chi, Anthony and the Mexicans were reduced to simple conspiracy, two counts for the Belizeans and one for the Mexicans. He said his client turned himself in and cooperated with police in giving a statement indicating that he was not anywhere near the site of the landing.

According to Bradley, Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal appeared in person to inform that the reduction of the charges meant the matter would no longer take place in the Supreme Court as first reported.

Further disclosure will be made and the cases will be tried on August 29th.

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