In November of last year, Ernesto Alonso De Miguel, known as "El Espanol" was executed in Chetumal. He was known as one of the biggest dealers in
contraband cigarettes between the Corozal Free Zone and Mexico.
Well, yesterday at midday, a woman reported to be his wife,
Maria Jose Del Valle Rosado was caught at the Phillip Goldson airport with over a quarter million dollars in cash.
Two special branch officers were doing routine checks at the departure lounge when they saw Valle Rosado and two men acting suspiciously. The police
searched them and found $137,130.00 US dollars, equivalent to $274,260.00 Belize dollars on Valle Rosado. The two Belizeans with her also had money. 25
year old Corozal Free Zone worker Nair Arjenis Balam carried 9,900 US dollars, and 36 year old San Narciso Cane Farmer Wilfrido Catzim, carried 9,880
US dollars. They were reportedly bound for Panama.
The Financial Intelligence Unit was called in and they allege that the trio all failed to make required declarations under the Money Laundering and
Terrorism Act.
Valle-Rosado, was slapped with two counts: one count of attempting to leave Belize with more than $20,000 Belize dollars, and failure to declare when
leaving Belize with more than $10,000 cash without first reporting the matter to FIU.
She pleaded not guilty to both charges, in the presence of her attorney, Magali Marin Young.
Her two other co accused, Catzim and Balam also pleaded not guilty when they were charged separately for the offense of failure to declare when leaving
Belize with more than $10,000 dollars.
And while the FIU prosecutor, Leni Ysaguirre had no objection to bail Senior Magistrate, Sharon Fraser ordered Rosado to surrender her passport. In
getting bail of $50,000 secured for Rosado, Marin-Young argued Rosado is not a flight risk because – while she does live in Chetumal - she has
residency in Belize and does business in the Corozal Freezone and has strong ties to Belize as the Director of Alonzo's Brothers Ltd. Bail for Catzim
and Balam was set at $8,000 dollars each.
Trial is set for June 13, and disclosure is expected by May 3, 2016. |