The contraband trade gets crazy at Christmas - and, in the north. it's a way of life. For customs, police and the BDF that means extra patrols and added danger - because, for the smugglers, those contraband cargoes are highly valuable. And last night, things escalated to a dangerous new level when smugglers shot two lawmen who had earlier seized two canoes loaded with contraband.
A BDF soldier and a policeman were on the Santa Cruz, Belize side of the river when they were shot by unknown persons across the Rio Hondo in Botes, Mexico.
Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head Of National Crimes Investigation Joseph Myette told us more this morning in Belmopan:…
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
"Last night shortly after 8:45pm Orange Walk police were called to Santa Cruz Village in the Orange Walk District where upon arrival they observed 2 members of the security forces who were on a joint patrol, namely police constable Hassan Lucas, 24 years old and Julio Sarceno, BDF corporal with apparent gunshot injuries. They were transported to the Northern Regional Hospital where Sarceno was treated and released, whilst Lucas remains under observation in a stable condition."
"What we know so far is that those officers were on a patrol along with others along the banks of the Rio Hondo River when they observed 3 persons across the Mexican side of the river in a canoe and shortly thereafter they heard a number of shots and this was when those 2 persons received the injuries. Police officers at this current moment are on the scene trying to process the scene further, since it's now day time and trying to gather whatever information they can in regards to this investigation."
Reporter
"We understand that when shots were fired police were in the process of seizing contraband?"
ACP Joseph Myvett
"That was not fed to me other than to say that earlier the same evening which was yesterday there was a seizure of contraband in the same area, prior to the incident."
Reporter
"Any more operations in that area in terms of contraband especially at this time of the year?"
ACP Joseph Myvett
"Well there has been a number of operations ongoing for some time now and it is the norm that these operations are carried out around this time of the year."
ACP Myette says that security forces do maintain a presence and frequent patrols in the area especially at this time of the year due to have contraband traffic.
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