Yesterday, our colleagues from KREM News spoke with Oscar Mira, the Minister of State in the Ministry of National Defense & Border Security. Here's how he explained that the officer is also facing an internal investigation and a slew of disciplinary charges:
Oscar Mira - Minister of State, Ministry of National Defense & Border Security
"An operation was conducted by MIT and by JIOC in relation to undocumented immigrants coming through the area around Santa Rosa, which is Bullet Tree. That operation was successful, and a van or a vehicle was intercepted. Indeed, a BDF was driving that vehicle. That investigation is continuing. There are other areas that they are looking at. Unfortunately, it's not something that we like to report on, but it is the reality. For some reason, I think that the security forces in the past have been coerced to cooperate with these individuals. For the BDF, it's of zero tolerance on that. The investigation is happening. There will be an internal investigation, apart from the police investigation into human trafficking. I think he has already been placed on leave, awaiting trial internally for many disciplinary actions that will be taken against him. We will not tolerate the Belice Defense Force or any of our security forces being part of this ring that is bringing in illegal immigrants into Belize. It's unfortunate. This is not what Belize Defense Force is."
