Last week, we told you about the 6 Belizeans who were detained in Puerto Cortez, Honduras, as a result of cooperation between law enforcement agencies from both Belize and Honduras. It is suspected - though not confirmed as yet - that these men have been operating as a pirate gang, and that they were shuttling between hideouts in Belize and Honduras.
They are 25-year-old Jaime Nolberto Coote, 28-year-old Vincent Esron Martinez, 19-year-old Fernando Avila, 20-year-old Justin Floyd Palacio, 40-year-old Jeremy Waylon Leslie, and a 17-year-old minor. Belizean law enforcement has intentions of investigating them and possibly linking them to several robberies at sea in the southern part of the country. Continued law enforcement cooperation between Honduras and Belize brought the men back to Belize, and the news tonight is that one of these suspected pirates has escaped from police.
Police have since identified the escaped man as Fernando Avila, a fisherman of Dashine Street, Dangriga Town. This morning, during a virtual press conference hosted by the Police Commissioner, the media asked for details about how he got away:
Reporter
"I got reports of an escaped prisoner, one of the fishermen who were brought from Honduras. One of them escaped police custody. Could you confirm if that is indeed true?"
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"Yes, I was told by Mr. Jones that one of the prisoners did in fact escape, and the police are looking for him."
Reporter
"Would you be able to share the circumstances with us?"
Chester Williams
"I have the press office release that information to you later on today, along with the photograph of the individual."
Before they were expelled from Honduras, all 6 men faced immigration charges for illegal entry.
