The BDF and the police have teamed up to tackle narcos in the north. According to the Commander of the BDF, the Sinaloa Cartel has trickled down into Quintana Roo, dangerously close to Belize. They have had to increase their presence in the nearby villages to ensure the safety of the residents - including the contrabandistas that have been extorted - and mitigate any infiltration by the narcos.
Today Brigadier General Azariel Loria told us more.
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.
"That's an area of concern as we speak. I think that Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has briefed on that about a developing cartel or a cartel that branched off the Sinaloa cartel and have formed their mini cartel in that area."
Reporter
"In Quintana Roo, to be specific."
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.
"Well you could say Quintana Roo, but they are operating in that area."
Reporter
"Which area? Not in Belize."
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.
"In the area of Quintana Roo, but the villages that is opposite to the villages of San Victor, San Roman and Douglas. Those are the villages."
"From the B.D.F. perspective, we have not seen the Mexicans entering into Belizean territory. What we are doing, we are in support of the police and we are patrolling the river. They do not have the necessary assets to do that so we are patrolling up and down with our special boat unit. We are in support of the police doing land patrols in what they call their composite patrols. We have some of our personnel attached, two or three composite patrols in those villages."
Reporter
"What we are understanding in that situation is that the contrabandistas are going over and their being harassed by these cartels, saying that they need to pay to enter into Mexican territory. Is this something that you guys are getting from investigation?"
Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.
"That is the information we have gathered as well along with the police department and some other information as well about not only our contrabandistas going across and the cartels asking them for payment to enter Mexico, but also we have the issue of immigration; the Cubans, Haitians that allegedly are crossing from those points in San Victor, Douglas and the other one."
