Recognizing this threat, Belize acquired a U.S. manufactured C-208 Grand Caravan in 2023, equipped with a sophisticated MX-15 sensor and an AERONet communication system - a powerful combination capable of detecting and monitoring cartel movements. However, possessing the technology is only half the battle. Belize needed the technical expertise and training to fully leverage the C-208's capabilities.

In May, Air Advisors from the 571^st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) deployed a Mobile Training Team to Belize.

Their mission: to empower the Belize Defence Force (BDF) to strengthen its rule of law, thwart cartel activity within its borders, and ultimately contribute to the security of the U.S. southern border. This collaborative effort directly supports U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking at its source.

“This training mission reflects the U.S.’s focus on protecting its southern border by addressing the root of the problem,” explained Lieutenant Colonel Mary Lea Bordelon, 571^st MSAS Commander. “By strengthening our partners and helping them become more effective, we can disrupt cartel activity before it ever reaches our borders.”

The 571st MSAS developed the complex mission by expertly coordinating a team whose combined knowledge and training delivered success. The team included U.S. Air Force pilots, sensors operators, parachute riggers, Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), airfield, and communications specialists to work alongside their BDF counterparts from the Air Wing, Coast Guard, and Anti-Narcotics units. The focus was on integrating the MX-15 sensor with AERONet system, utilizing MPU-5s and ATAK devices for seamless air-to-ground communication and data sharing. The MPU-5 is also used by U.S. military forces, meaning the BDF and U.S. military are able to seamlessly interoperate with the ground communication nodes. Highlights of the training were several firsts for the BDF—night landings with  contingency Landing Zone lights, maritime interdiction scenarios, and air drop—all of which enhance Belize’s ability to respond to threats on ground and at sea.

Recognizing that many illicit airfields are located in remote and difficult-to-access areas, the 571st MSAS also enhanced the BDF’s ability to resupply forward operating bases. Training on airdrops from the C-208 for the first time allows the BDF to deliver critical supplies to the remote locations. Furthermore, Major Smith, the Belize Defence Force Air Wing Commander emphasized that the airdrop training will also enable the BDF to deliver raw materials for creating explosives, which can then be used to render the illicit airfields unusable.

The increased capabilities are already making a difference. Captain Correa of the Belize Defence Force Air Wing noted, “The cartel activity has really been in decline of late, [thanks] in big part to our increased capabilities, particularly our ability to operate at night.”  The landing zone and nighttime training provided by the 571st MSAS has enabled the BDF Air Wing to operate at auxiliary fields during hours of darkness, the cartels’ preferred time for operations.

With enhanced technology, expert training, and a strengthened partnership, Belize is sending a clear message: its territory is no longer a safe haven for drug cartels. The collaborative efforts between the U.S. and Belize are proving to be a powerful force in the fight against transnational crime.