Usually, what happens in the Corozal Free Zone stays in the Zone. But last night violence arising from bad blood over the cigarette trade in the Zone spilled over - all the way to the mile 8 community in the Belize District.
Up to 20 shots were fired last night in 8 miles, injuring two men. One of the men was 39 year old Nitin Buxani, a prominent free zone businessman, and the intended target. But why was Buxani targeted? Courtney Menzies has this story.
This morning, CIB investigators could be seen entering Belize Healthcare Partners where Nitin Buxani and his driver, Rene Arnold, are hospitalized for multiple gunshot injuries.
At about 5:30 yesterday evening, they were east bound in a Chevy Colorado pickup heading from Hattieville to Belize City when at the speed bump a gunman with a semi automatic rifle stepped towards the vehicle and fired at least 20 shots. The attack left.223 expended shells strewn across the westbound lane of the highway and put ten bullet holes in the windshield and four bullet holes through the driver's side window.
Despite the barrage of gunfire, Buxani's driver maintained control, managed to speed off and raced to Belize Healthcare Partners, where they are admitted in a stable condition.
Buxani is a well known figure in the Corozal Freezone's tobacco trade, which is controlled by Mexican Cartels and he has been named recently in several ongoing disputes. But the well planned attack occurred in the Belize District where he is not a regular presence. This has stumped investigators who are concerned that cartel violence linked to the free zone is leaking into Belize City.
A police report issued today makes it seem like just another shooting and seems to downplay what clearly was an attempted hit, likely orchestrated by a criminal enterprise.
We note that an internal police report we have seen says that Buxani has a Belize City address on the George Price Highway.
Buxani - according to multiple reports - had long been one of the key operators to facilitate the export of cigarettes from the Zone into Mexico - but was recently removed from that lucrative post - when he fell out of favour with the cartels - which control the tobacco trade.
