7 News Belize

Immigration Busts Human Smuggling Operation
posted (April 11, 2018)
Last night, the Immigration Department and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council made a bust of a human smuggling operation out west - in the San Ignacio area.

According to reports, last night just before 9:00, Immigration officers pulled over a van near Clarissa Falls and found the Belizean driver and 15 Hondurans inside. There were 7 adults and 8 children. They had all entered illegally just a short time before through the Benque Viejo border - without being processed or stamped at that crossing. They were allegedly being smuggled to the northern border, and, from there, unto the USA.

The adults are being held tonight and are expected to be charged tomorrow for "Failure to present themselves to an immigration officer upon arrival." We understand that the 8 children are now in the care of the Department of Human Services. They are the children of the 7 adults.

And while these adults may end up getting fined and returned to their home country, the driver - who is Belizean - could face multiple charges related to human smuggling.

He is still detained tonight - and we understand his van is the property of a well-known local tour operator.

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