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Daniel Ortiz found out, that the trail to this marker resembles a trek by culprits of illegal activities:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
On Saturday morning, about 70-80 supporters of the Belize Territorial Volunteers, and the Belize People's Front, gathered at Macal Park in Santa Elena for their trip to the border marker at Garbutt's Falls.

After a short briefing, the group set off on their journey to the border between Benque Viejo and Melchor De Menchos.

It was a short 20 minute drive, but instead of approaching the normal way, the group made a right turn off the road, which led down to the Mopan River.

This river winds along the border line, so it was ideal for the Volunteers to travel along its banks to get to the marker.

But it's not a clearly established path; it's more like a picado for smugglers of all types, as they move in stealth, behind the border's shadow.

Our suspicious were confirmed by one of the professionals leading the supporters, a former BDF officer with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Ret'd Lt. Gilroy Requena - Served 16 Years in BDF
"The trail that we came on were mostly used by Guatemalans who have been taking across contraband stuff, especially food stuff and mainly things that have been sold by others in terms of the tourism sector like chains and necklaces that are sold to tourists."

The roaring Mopan river, behind me, is a mere few meters away from the Garbutts Falls Border marker. It is an un-regulated most un-policed border crossing, ripe for, and rife with illegal activities.

Ret'd Lt. Gilroy Requena
"You know I've been here a few times, legally of course, in the Guatemalan/Belizean border going to Guatemala and I've seen people coming out in the same entrance where we came in - people waiting there for taxis to take them. I guess because of the proximity to the border and of course to the check point and immigration crossing border then I know the other crossing point and to the north of where we are but since it is a bit flooded and these guys have canoes to cross people then this is one of the best crossing points but when there's no flooding in this area then normally people can walk across so that won't be a problem for persons who want to enter Belize illegally."

We saw first-hand what Lieutenant Requena described along this trail. Our camera caught a group of men transporting what looked like flour or rice. We can't say if these men are Guatemalan or Belizean, but it resembled illegal cross border trade, or simply put, smuggling contraband, done with great ease and, apparently, without great worry, in broad daylight.

Further along the path, we could see the Western Border facility, it's firm fences standing almost in defiance of the lawlessness that unfolds all around it.

But here, surveillance is only symbolic, and the Volunteers moved on undeterred and undisturbed, no authority tried to stop them from getting to the border marker.

After 20 minutes of hiking, the group finally arrived at the Garbutt's Falls border marker. The group gathered around for a small ceremony to signal the importance of this stone slab.

Ret'd Lt. Gilroy Requena
"Well as you may have heard the border basically is imaginary so, as I had pointed out earlier when we got here, where the marker is - as I'm facing basically in a northerly direction then on my left hand using as a southern direction - that's basically how the border runs all along. So if you look across to the right where the river is and where some guys were fishing earlier - those guys are still within Belizean territory."

The Leaders then made civic speeches, and then it was on to the familiarization with the border Marker

Will Maheia - Leader, Belize Teritorial Volunteers
"We're at the historic Garbutt Falls marker - as you know there are three markers that defines Belize's border, this is the middle one in the Cayo District, the one up north is Aguas Turbias, and the one down south is Gracias a Dios."

Nefeteri Nancy Marin - President, Belize People's Front
"We feel that it is important that the Belizeans note the marker and that we don't have an artificial border - that we have a real border and that it is our responsibility if the government does not want to live up to theirs - it is our responsibility as Belizeans to maintain the border, to know the border, to introduce the border to our children and keep it cleaned and maintained."

As has been the standing practice with BTV excursions, safety was the highest priority, and above all, everyone made sure not to engage in any behavior that could cause a border incident.

Ret'd Lt. Gilroy Requena
"Just behind me here as you may have noticed, it's quite opened and if any incidents should have occurred, I'm sure it would have caused concern for others to see what was going on and to see what is taking place. I think here we are safe, across the river is still Belizean terriroy - where there's a pig farm that is basically where the fence that is where the border line actually is so as long as we don't get across there and we're not provoking any incidents, I think we should be safe on this side."

The unusual activity around the border marker did spark the interest of 2 heavily armed members of the Guatemalan security forces. Even though our group was on Belizean territory, the soldiers felt duty bound to investigate.

They immediately made contact with the leaders of the excursion, who clearly explained their purpose.

After that conversation, the soldiers left the way they came, displaying courtesy to the BTV.

Nefeteri Nancy Marin
"We greeted them, I walked up to them and told them 'welcome to Belize' and asked them what was the problem - they said there wasn't any problem they had just heard the noise and wanted to investigate what we were doing here. I explained to them that it is an educational trip and we came to show the people that we have a border and where it is located and they had no problem with it - they said 'thanks' and walked away."

Daniel Ortiz
"Is it important for Belizeans to meet these different organizations like the Guatemalan army forces to see how they are? Because we have this fear that they will shoot us on site - that is what our government has give us the idea of."

Nefeteri Nancy Marin
"That is what the government has tried to brainwash the people to believe - the fact is that we have spoken, I personally have spoken to thousands of Guatemalans, both immigrants here in Belize and Guatemalans that are living in Guatemala and really they have no interest in taking over Belize. It is just the politicians and the rich elitist that have the interest in the resources of Belize but really to the common Guatemalan it is more important and more beneficial to them for Belize to remain Belize, independent and sovereign. They come over here for jobs because we pay more so I really don't have any fear of the military shooting at us or anything. I've trekked with the xateros over the Guatemalan side, I've trekked over at the Chiquibull and we've encountered Guatemalans and we've encountered military and their has never been any problem."

The BTV says that encountering the Guatemalan military near the border is expected. And despite the mild tension created by such a presence, they believe that it is important for citizens to learn their border.

Daniel Ortiz
"As a former soldier - what is the importance that you attach that people find out where these border markers are?"

Ret'd Lt. Gilroy Requena
"It is very important and I look at it from a patriotic stand point - Belizeans now, I'm proud of those parents who have brought out their kids and as you can see are very young kids out here who hopefully will take up the mantle later on when we move on to other things, another life - and they can take up the mantle to say that this will never die. I'm proud of the parents who came out and even the younger kids and I wish there were more people out here but then again we will never give up. I don't think we need to give up that we do have a border."

Will Maheia
"Today we have Mr. De La Fuente out here - he's 85 years old and we have young babies out here, a lot of youths - this summer we will continue with our mission for Belizeans to become more familiar with the border."

Ret'd Lt. Gilroy Requena
"I remember the Foreign Minister talking about the British being here and in all the times they have been here, they have never really cleared the border and that is so untrue, because I had served the BDF since 1985 and I had taken patrols all along the border so I'm very familiar with the entire border. I know that there are clear indications, for example just to expand a little of what I just pointed out. The fence where that pig fence is just across the river that is where the border is. That can take you up a few miles just behind Xunantunich or a few further miles up north and that is where the border line is. It's unfortunate that we tend to drop our guard and just taken for a ride by Guatemala simply because they are a much bigger country and of course a larger army but that should not make us give up and say 'whatever happens happens', I don't think so."

The border advocates are calling on GOB activate initiatives to secure the marker. But from what we've seen only the Guatemalan officials have taken an interest.

The BTV plans to make another trip to the border next month, as part of an education experience for several youth organizations.