Drug smugglers at Lighthouse Reef Atoll fishing vessel with the name “Yashi”.

Members of the coast guard have made arrests out at sea for the possession of illegal drugs. According to the Belize National Coast Guard yesterday while doing their frequent patrols in the Lighthouse Reef Atoll they came across a fishing vessel with the name “Yashi”. In the boat were seven fishermen from the village of Xunox in the Corozal district. When the officer conducted a search of the vessel they discovered what appeared to be cannabis stashed in the sail of the fishing vessel. Further searching led to the discovery of suspected cannabis inside the trouser pocket of two of the crewmen onboard the vessel. The seven men were detained and were transported to Belize City where they were handed over to the police. According to the National Coast Guard a previous search had been conducted last week Friday, April 18, this time at Turneffe Atoll as they had reasonable suspicions that the vessel was involved in illegal activities.