We've reported from time to time on the robust tobacco trade at the Western Free zone near the Benque Viejo Border. Container fulls of Chinese cigarettes are imported every month into the zone - and then smuggled into Guatemala. It's an illicit trade and the sales are often in cash - US dollars, which are impossible to bank. So, the companies who deal with this trade are stuck with large sums of cash. And this weekend, well - prepared, organized criminals used their arc welder and torched their way into the offices of Kortobacco Ltd. and stole almost half a million US dollars from a deposit room. Police told us what they know so far:
Jospeh Myvette- OC, HNCIB
"On Sunday the 19th of September shortly after 4:30 am Benque Viejo police was called on to the Western Free Zone, the Core Tobacco Company, where upon arrival they observed that the metal door for the building was torched off as well as several other doors within the building and upon making checks with the manager a total of $406,000 USD was missing- supposedly the sales for one month. The company is involved in the sale of cigarettes. According to police information, the security guards discovered the damages to the building shortly before 4:30 am. Two security guards were working from Head's Security Company and according to them, at the time, they were somewhere inside the zone at some gas station. Surveillance footage had also showed that four people entered the building. They were masked, wearing long sleeve shirts and gloves whilst one person remained outside during the commission of the burglary. Yes, I believed they were armed with short arms."
Jules Vasquez- Reporter
"Now, I understand that there is suspicion that this is an inside job."
Joseph Myvette
"Well, that is also being looked at, as one employee is being interviewed in relation to the investigation."
Jules Vasquez
"We know that the tobacco products are smuggled into Guatemala and from there they are funneled throughout Central America, we are reliably informed, and it being an illicit business it is often a business in cash and large amounts of cash require money laundering, sir. There are indications that this company is a company which needs to move large amounts of US dollars which is known as money laundering. Is that something that you all are looking at?"
Joseph Myvette
"Yes, that is being looked at as a part of the investigation. We are following several leads as well, in relation to the investigation."
Jules Vasquez
"Is the Financial Intelligence Unit a part of this investigation?"
Joseph Myvette
"They will become, since it happened over the weekend, they will be onboard sometime later today."
Jules Vasquez
"Is the Western Free Zone becoming an area of concern for you all because of these large amounts of cash which are obviously involved in that zone?"
Joseph Myvette
"Yes it is and for that reason too the police have been doing frequent patrols in that area."
As you heard, one person is detained. The company is owned by Bolivians.
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