The Guatemalan Newspaper, Prensa Libre, reported that on early yesterday, the Guatemalan naval unit, which is posted at the mouth of the Sarstoon River, intercepted a boat in off the coast of Toledo. It is unclear where exactly the vessel was intercepted, but the Prensa Libre indicates that it was an area north of Punta Gorda.

If accurate, that would put the Guatemalan navy vessel deep inside Belizean waters. They captured three men: 42 year-old Iginio Canto Bacab, who's originally from Caledonia in the Corozal District; 55 year-old Alejandro Rodriguez Ortega, who is originally from Puerto Barrios, Guatemala; and 44 year-old Julio Rodriguez Blanco, who's originally from Belize, but he's since been living in Puerto Barrios. Reliable sources say that while the Guatemalans have identified Julio Blanco as a Belizean, all his identity documents say that he is a Guatemalan.

Their vessel, named "Mealtonia" was searched, and on it, the Guat. Navy officers found a large amount of lobsters. Lobster is out of season in all Central American nations - which have now harmonized their seasons. It is believed that the Belizean was in collusion with the other 2 Guatemalan detainees to smuggle illegal lobsters into Guatemala.

All 3 men were detained and transferred to Livingston, Guatemala, where they've been charged with fisheries offenses. The two Guatemalans have reportedly been released on bail of $9,000 quetzals. Iginio Canto, the Belizean, remains in detention at this time. It would seem to be a major diplomatic issue, since there are suggestions that they were intercepted in Belziean waters. Of course, it could be interpreted as a means of putting pressure on Belize to vote "yes" to the ICJ so that our borders can be firmly established.