Lots of eyebrows are raised in Punta Gorda town after a six men, including four Chinese businessmen were released without charges. The men - from Corozal and Punta Gorda - were intercepted yesterday morning near PG town with some contraband on board a vessel named Toshita.
But what was more concerning was that their cargo of jumbo shrimp and Corona beer had apparently come over from Guatemala. The BDF at the Sarstoon Forward Operating base spotted the transfer being made from a vessel coming over from the Guatemalan side. That vessel met the Toshita in Belizean waters, and appeared to have transferred some items.
The Coast Guard was activated, and today at headquarters, they told us what happened next:
Cmdr. Gregory Soberanis - Deputy BNCG
"The BDF team being vigilant in that Sarstoon border area observed a movement of 2 vessels; one vessel that came from Guatemala and one vessel that came from the Belizean side. What the Belize Defence team reported was that there was a link up with these 2 vessels. The link up was made, the Guatemalan boat then returned to the Guatemalan side of the border and the Belizean vessel then proceeded north in the direction of Punta Gorda."
Coast Guard
"They followed the vessel, the vessel tried to out-manuever them by going into the Moho River. However, the patrol stayed behind the vessel and continued their pursuit and the vessel then started to go along the coast up to Orange Point where the vessel was then detained in that viscinity of Orange Point."
Cmdr. Gregory Soberanis - Deputy BNCG
"On board the vessel were 6 individuals; 4 Chinese descent individuals and 2 local from Punta Gorda Town. They informed the coast guard patrol that they were out purchasing shrimp. On board the vessel there was a large white igloo icebox filled with shrimp and ironically a case of Corona beer. The vessel and individuals on board were then escorted to Punta Gorda Town where they were then handed over to customs, BAHA and the ministry of health. We were informed that they were subsequently quarantine in Punta Gorda Town. Currently all 6 men are in quarantine by the ministry of health. We also know that there is an ongoing investigation by the customs department. Pending the outcome of that investigation will determine what charges will be levied against these individuals. There are several infractions here; 1) as you rightly mentioned they were in possession of uncustomed goods. They had no permit, they were unable to provide any documentation to show that they were authorized to conduct such a transaction. So in our view they were in possession of uncustomed goods. Secondly, the captain license had expired. So they were operating with an expired captain license. The captain license had expired from the 23rd April of this year and of course because it was a non-essential movement they are in violation of the current SOE."
Reporter
"Some reports are saying right now that there are no longer at the quarantine center. I know it's not a matter for you to bring all those charges that you discussed, but as you understand it is their detention status and likelihood of being charged?"
Cmdr. Gregory Soberanis - Deputy BNCG
"We have received no official report or documentation or message transmission from the relevant authorities that these individuals have been released."
Well, it turns out they were released - after apparently being held at a local hotel. But. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams says they will be re-detained and charged.
He says they can only be charged for failure to give proper reason to explain their movements outside of curfew. He adds that police cannot prove that they left the country, and they cannot prove that the vessel they had contact with was Guatemalan.
As for the uncounted goods - customs is only looking at the corona beers. The Comptroller today confirmed that there were 19 bottles of them. See says the beers were confiscated and they were warned and released. He adds that Customs will not levy any charges for the uncustomed goods.
And, today the Director of Health Services says his department has no interest in them:
Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Service
"Other than they not posed a health risk, I don't know if I am able to comment on what other measures other ministries may have found with them. From the health standpoint, these are Belizeans caught in Belizean waters fishing. So that would not necessarily pose a health risk from our end. They were not placed at the quarantine station in Toledo. I did check late last night 9pm and there was only 4 people that were there and those persons that you are referring to were not in that quarantine station."
Commissioners Williams says two have been re-detained, and police are looking for the two others.
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