Earlier in the news we told you how the police had arrested two persons for coming across the southern border into Toledo illegally.
But, the focus has been principally on the norther - where it is a cultural and community practice to go across to the Mexican communities across the rio Hondo for contraband groceries and beer.
Those in the communities along the Rio Hondo, cross that river like you cross the street to your neighbourhood grocery.
And that's where the Coast Guard comes in. Yesterday we asked the Deputy Commander about enforcement activities in the north:
Cmdr. Gregory Soberanis - Vice- Commandant - Coast Guard
"The commandant has issued a directive for us to have an increased vigilance at our northern maritime borders, as you may have witnessed this week, or seen this week, we had a few people who were crossing our northern border, so we have increased our efforts in that sector for us to intercept and deter movements along our maritime borders up north."
Jules Vasquez
"Two things immediately come to mind, the Rio Hondo and Sarteneja, obviously a hotspot, the 32 miles between Ramonal and Botes, and Sarteneja, another hotspot, which you can just hop across."
Cmdr. Gregory Soberanis
"That is a large area and the approach is not one that the Coast Guard will take on alone, it is a collaborative approach, an inter-agency approach which involves, police, customs and the BDF. We know that the BDF has been extremely vigilant, they have also increased their efforts by having more assets and personnel in the Rio Hondo to combat the illegal crossing in the area. As I mentioned before, the Coast Guard has increased our number of assets and personable in that Sarteneja, Chunox, Copper Bank area, that entire Corozal Bay Area of operation. For us we have an increased presence there in order to combat those illegal crossings."
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