7 News Belize

Police Explain Human Smuggling Arrest
posted (July 11, 2019)
So, 7 persons have been charged for smuggling four Hondurans - 2 adults and 2 minors.

Police and the Immigration Department are working to build as airtight a case as possible to get a conviction - which is rare in such cases.

Today at the bi-weekly press brief, the head of national crimes investigations told us about the arrest that police made:'

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
"Based on information, Orange Walk Police mounted an operation supported by Ladyville police where upon doing the investigation, it was found that two vehicles were northbound on the Philip Goldson Highway, which being a gold in colour Toyota Corolla with Benque Viejo taxi license plate and this was followed some distance behind by a grey in colour silver Ford Escape. During the operation, the police first intercepted the Toyota Corolla car where there were five occupants; two females and three males. In continuing with the operation, which led police to the Crooked Tree Road, police erected a checkpoint on the Crooked Tree Road where the Ford Escape was stopped and at the time it was driven by one Edwin Naj, forty years of a Benque Viejo Town address. Accompanying him were two Honduran male adults and two minors. During the investigation, one more person was taken into custody who was in the immediate area, one Sergio Guerra, thirty-five years Human services employee as part of the investigation. They have since been detained and so far we know that immigration related charges for facilitating the commission of an immigration offence has been levied against those 2 persons, whiklst the others remains in custody pending the ongoing investigation."

Reporter
"What happens in terms of the investigation to determine whether this is not the first time that these persons have been involved in similar activities like this?"

ACP Joseph Myvett
"What I can say yes indeed the police have gotten that information, but it would be difficult for you to go back on previous information. So we start from where we are at this point in time, but is going to be kind of a lengthy investigation."

As we understand it, the Honduran adults who were being smuggled have now also been charged for illegal entry. They allegedly gave police information about how much they paid to be smuggled. Police are also trying to fill in the blanks on the smuggling network by looking at the telephone of one of the accused for information about who he may be linked to.

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