GRENADE ATTACK AT THE RESIDENCE OF BELIZE'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000092


DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, DS/IP/RD/WHA, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/OSAC
EL SALVADOR FOR LEGATT
GUATEMALA FOR ICE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2019
TAGS: ASEC PTER PINR HO BH
SUBJECT: GRENADE ATTACK AT THE RESIDENCE OF BELIZE'S
COMPTROLLER OF CUSTOMS

REF: BELMOPAN 082

Classified By: RSO Robert F. Kelty for reason 1.5(d)

SUBJECT: Grenade Attack at the Residence of Belize,s
Comptroller of Customs


1. (U) On Tuesday, March 3, 2009, the residence of Gregory
Gibson, Belize,s Comptroller of Customs, was targeted by
unknown assailant(s) who threw a grenade onto the third floor
balcony. Comptroller Gibson currently resides at #2 Signa
Street, Belama, Phase 1, Belize City. The incident occurred
at approximately 8:15 pm (local time) and the grenade was
likely thrown from an empty lot behind the building.
Comptroller Gibson, his wife and his daughter were all at
home at the time of the attack. There were no injuries to
any individuals in the attack.


2. (U) A Belize Police Department (BPD) investigation has
not generated any additional information or arrests in the
attack. The Belize Defense Force,s (BDF) explosive
ordinance detection team discovered the fly-off lever of the
grenade in a tree in an adjacent lot. The grenade caused
superficial damage to the building and left a hole
approximately one foot in diameter on the balcony landing.


3. (C) RSO,s Foreign Service National Investigator (FSNI)
interviewed Comptroller Gibson after the attack. Comptroller
Gibson advised that he believes the attack was an
intimidation attempt as a result of recent criminal charges
and ongoing court proceedings against suspected drug dealers
and corrupt customs officers. The Customs Department has
recently investigated several contraband importations, to
include an illegal shipment of weapons and a shipment of
medicine containing pseudoephedrine. The FSNI also
interviewed a locally engaged staff employee, who resides
next door to Comptroller Gibson and was home at the time of
the incident. The LES employee confirmed that she heard the
explosion and advised that the windows of her home rattled
after the explosion. As she was inside the home at the time
of the incident, she did not observe the assailant(s)
involved in the attack.


4. (C) Per REFTEL, the BPD has seized small quantities of
explosives in country on multiple occasions over the past
year. The explosives and related material, which included
two blocks of M112 explosives (1.25 pounds),two tubes of PE
4 (British equivalent of C-4),various detonators, safety
fuses and grenades, all appear to be linked to the British
Army Training Support Unit (BATSUB),stationed at the BDF
Price Barracks in Belize City. The items were either stolen
and/or sold by two alleged BATSUB personnel previously
stationed in Belize. There are approximately twenty (20)
hand grenades still unaccounted for and remain missing. RSO
is still awaiting confirmation on whether the device used in
this most recent attack was part of the original BATSUB lot
still unaccounted.


DIFFILY