BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) — Belizean Police Commissioner Dr Richard Rosado has confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the disappearance of a quantity of cocaine from a police station and that one police officer is assisting the investigation.

“I can confirm that the Belize Police Department is investigating the reported disappearance of just over one gram of controlled drugs from the Orange Walk Police Station. One officer is currently being questioned,” Rosado told Greater Belize Media (GBM) television.

The authorities said that the cocaine was confiscated from an individual during a police operation and that the arresting officer reportedly failed to submit the drugs to the station’s exhibit keepers, as required under police procedures.

Media reports said that the officer stored the cocaine in his personal locker at the station and that the discovery was made last Friday, when another officer who was on duty allegedly accessed that locker and stole the cocaine.

The police commissioner said that any officer found to have breached regulations or compromised evidence would face disciplinary action, including criminal prosecution where applicable.