A joint operation by Customs, BDF and Police on Sunday had more than a few residents of Orange Walk hopping mad. The operation began on Sunday morning and by midday 14 vehicles had been impounded because the occupants were trying to smuggle contraband items from the Mexican border town of Botes into the Orange Walk District. Our affiliate in Orange Walk, the Northern Cable Network was on the scene and caught up with those outside Colonel Eyles Camp in Orange Walk.
Alfonso Noble Reporting, Email - [alfnoble@yahoo.com]
This was the scene at Colonel Eyles Camp in Orange Walk Town on Saturday afternoon when at least 14 vehicles including trucks, pickup trucks, cars and vans were impounded inside the military compound after a joint operation of BDF, Customs and Police detained them for smuggling contraband items.
Those outside explained that they had gone to Mexico to purchase goods when they were netted in the operation.
Resident #1: I was bringing a small sack of flour and a small sack of rice.
Q: Where did they take away the things from you today?
Resident #1: Between San Antonio and Santa Cruz. I spent about 300 pesos.
Q: What did they tell you about the goods they took away?
Resident #1: They only told me to take out the things in plastic bag and to leave the flour and the rice.
Resident #2: I went to try and buy some goods.
Q: What happened this morning?
Resident #2: Just as what you are seeing. They took away some of our things. They confiscated our vehicle and charged us $2,000 if we want to get it out.
One woman was particularly upset because she says it was her first time attempting to make her money go further when she was caught.
Resident #3: When we went the road was clear but when we came back the whole Customs and BDF was there and shucks I got surprised because the person had just passed and they told us the road was clear and so we passed and they caught us.
Q: You usually go and purchase your provisions?
Resident #3: No this is the first and last time.
Q: What did they take away from you?
Resident #3: They took away one sack of flour, one sack of rice, three case of soft drink, and one case of milk.
Q: What they told you?
Resident #3: That this is a contraband and they have to confiscate it.
Q: How much money you spent today?
Resident #3: About $158.
Q: Did you know it was illegal?
Resident #3: I know it was illegal, definitely I know that, but you can't buy all that with $100 here in Belize. $100 barely gets you one case of milk, one sack of flour, so how the hell will we buy things out here?
But on Saturday that was of no concern to law enforcement officers who simply held the vehicles in the compound while people stood around waiting for anything, even if it was a sighting of Minister Servulo Baeza's vehicle that just came by and made a quick exit. And while the people outside jeered, they were concerned because of what they saw as special treatment to a few of those detained.
Resident #4: Everybody supposed to have equal rights because those people were bringing handbags but the Mayor vehicle was coming loaded so that's what we need to know out here right now.
He would not get an answer on that or any other question on that day but one thing is clear, in the middle of government's revenue crunch the Customs Department has stepped up its intercept efforts which means if you're trying to stretch your dollar - dealing in contraband may end up stretching it right into government's coffers.
Despite numerous attempts we were unable to reach the Customs Department today, so there is no official indication on how many vehicles were detained or what the charges and fines levied against them will be.
