Two of the Arellano-Felix brothers and two henchmen arrived, early afternoon, on the half hour flight over from Cancun; after leaving Tijuana in the early morning. On the descent into Belize International Airport, if they had known where to look, they could have seen the Leyland Daf and International trucks parked at the adjacent Price Barracks. Named after former Prime Minister George Cadle Price, the barracks was home to the British Army jungle training unit that also doubled as the Belize Defence Force. The Welsh Guards were in residence and the Lieutenant-Colonel, senior officer, was a good friend of Kevin. They had served together in Afghanistan, when both had the rank of captain. Several others at the base also knew Kevin from their posting in Helmond.
Gunther and Petra had decided to split from the others and head for the coast at Sartenja; promising to meet-up again along the Pan-American Highway. The four with the money headed to the army base and were welcomed like long-lost family; at last they felt safe although that was far from being true. Belize City was gangland and the top two were the Crips and the Bloods. Gangs with their heritage back in Los Angeles. Since the 1980’s Belize has had a lot of emigration to the USA combined with a lot of citizens returning; bringing with them the gang culture of Los Angeles. This strong link is what had alerted the cartel to the whereabouts of their prey. The Crips were comfortable about helping the cartel but apprehensive of locking horns with the Welsh Guards. The gang ran most of the prostitution in Belize City and the British army was their best customer. They recommended surveillance with the brothers getting their money back somewhere else.
The Army had access to about 5000 square miles of jungle terrain for training, some of which was harsh, so of which was picturesque with clearings by rivers with waterfalls. The commanding officer proposed a picnic for his guests; deep in the jungle for just those with an Afghan connection. Four trucks left Friday afternoon for a three day/two night training expedition with beer. The two MAN HX 60, the Leyland Daf and the International were discreetly followed by a Toyota HiLux pick-up, driven by two Crips gang members who quickly reported the composition and direction of the convoy. Within an hour, the Crips had mobilized twenty heavily armed gang members and six pick-up trucks; they headed out into the jungle too.
But in a small country of 400,000 people, not much goes unobserved and intel goes both ways. The police knew about their Mexican visitors and about who they came to see; although not knowing the reason as the cartel didn’t want the Crips to know there was three million dollars up for grabs. An inspector of the local police thought it was about time he spoke to the duty officer at the base; warning that their guests were in danger. The information was compounded a few minutes later when a friendly ■■■■■■ phoned her best client, the duty officer to warn him also. The Lieutenant-Colonel was already out of cell-tower range but acting on his own initiative; the young officer quickly had five MAN HX 60 ready to go with thirty squaddies; unimpressed that their weekend plans were in ruins.
The picnic party had set up camp at a swimming hole with nearby cascade; pork ribs were on the barbeque and the cold Belikin lager was flowing when the first of the gangster pick-ups crested the ridge above the camp. The soldiers were unarmed and the cartel were keen to wade in with all guns blazing; but the Crips knew they would have to live with the repercussions, they implored the cartel to enter into dialogue first. They still thought the Brit and Yank couples had run off with cartel product; not knowing it was cash. The gang spread out across the ridge and descended to the river. A quick blast of gunfire got the attention of the picnickers who were soon hog tied and arranged in a row.
The sound of an automatic fire galvanized the army; quickly on the scene they assumed the elevated position on the ridge looking down on the inquisition that was about to start
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