A vehicle loaded with contraband was caught not far from the customs checkpoint at the northern border and it raises a flag on how freely persons are moving across that border, and apparently how easily they are smuggling contraband through the standard customs checkpoint.
Two days ago, the Mobile Interdiction Team set up its checkpoint less than a mile away from the Santa Elena border crossing.
When they stopped a Suzuki SUV with Belize City plates driven by a man from the Port Loyola area, they found it was loaded with all kinds of contraband - enough to fuel a FEW Christmas Parties.
That included a box of Johnny Walker whiskey, a box of Bucchanan's whiskey, a case of Dos Equis, a case of Heineken, a box of Bailey's Irish Creme, a box of Grant's Whiskey and a box of Bacardi Rum.
Police handed all the items over to customs - which had just let it pass through. The comptroller of Customs Estelle Leslie told us, quote, "Our investigation team assigned to the Northern Border have carriage of the matter and are gathering all necessary information to determine the appropriate charges."
