On Friday we told you about the law enforcement operation at the Orange Walk based Caribbean International Brewery Company Limited. In a two-day multi agency raid of the factory in Carmelita village, police found 3.1 million dollars in cash in a safe and detained 9 persons who faced immigration offenses.
8 Chinese men found at the plant were charged with violating the conditions of their visitors permit, and the Belizean - who is a manager at the facility - was assessed with 8 counts of employing person without a valid work permit. They were remanded and an attorney has been retained to get them a bail hearing at the earliest.
But, the company has said the raid was maliciously planned and executed. Today in Belmopan, we asked the Commissioner of Police about that:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"They went in on the strength of a search warrant to conduct searches, looking for anything that may indicate the presence of human trafficking or money laundering within the particular establishment. Searches were conducted and the search led to the discovery of over 3.1 million Belize dollars, that also comprised of U.S. currencies. Also found were a number of Asian nationals who had immigration violations in respect to their stay in Belize and that includes the owner of the factory. Those persons who were found to have violated the immigration laws were charged by the immigration department and were arraigned at Orange Walk Town Magistrate's Court last Friday. In respect to the monies found, the FIU department is currently in possession of those monies and I think, sometime this week, they will apply to the court for permission to seize the money, pending the outcome of a money laundering investigation."
"Also, important to note was that it was also learnt that the employer may have been withholding the passports of at least 8 employees and again, that is an element of human trafficking, but so far we have been trying to get those employees to cooperate with investigators and that effort has been fruitile so far."
Jules Vasquez
"They are saying these are legitimate receipts from September sales of beer."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Its an ongoing investigation. I am sure that if it is that they can produce receipts indicating the collection of that sum and to show that they have paid their fair share of taxes, then the income tax and the FIU department are going to release the funds back to them."
"It is not illegal once you can prove how you get it and you can prove that you have paid your fair share of taxes."
Jules Vasquez
"They are saying that the Chinese men were only stuck here because of Covid trevel restrictions in thir country and they were in fact booked to leave today October 11th."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"You and I know that the Covid restrictions have been lifted I think March this year and since then we have not have any strict covid restrictions in terms of restricting the movements of people in and out of the country. So, certainly if it were that they...."
Jules Vasquez
"I mean in China."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well, I don't know. Then that's another issue with them and their country, but even if that were the case, the immigration department in Belize is open and if they wanted to stay longer due to unforeseen circumstances back in their country then they could have visited the immigration department and ask for an extension."
The company says it has retained an attorney to sue government for illegal search and seizure.
