Bail denied for alleged co-pilot of narco plane that crash-landed in Mountain Pine ridge

Published by BBNTEAM at December 21, 2021

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Posted: Tuesday, December 21, 2021. 10:50 pm CST.

By BBN Staff: After weeks of recovery from injuries sustained during the crash landing of an airplane smuggling narcotics into Belize, 27-year-old Jesus Alberto Martinez Quintero was brought before the Belize City Magistrate’s Court to be charged.

Quintero, the alleged co-pilot of the aircraft, had suffered a broken arm and a broken leg following the incident and was apprehended days later by police. In court, he was read two charges, one count of importation of control drugs, and one count of landing an aircraft without permission from the Minister responsible for civil aviation. A total of 579.34 kilograms of cocaine was retrieved by Police in their operation.

No bail could be offered and Quintero was remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until February 22, 2022. He now joins the others charged for the incident, known as the Hidden Valley Six, behind bars.

Quintero who was unable to walk or stand was allowed to sit at his arraignment. After the hearing, his lawyer explained that Quintero recently underwent surgery at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for his broken leg and an injury to his hip.

Police say they believe the pilot of the aircraft was whisked away moments after the crash-landing. He and several others are still being sought by police in connection with the incident.

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