Tonight the Customs Department is trying to find out how one of their officers at the northern border authorized the entry of a bulletproof vehicle into the Corozal Free Zone.
7News has obtained a temporary importation permit issued by the Customs Department in Corozal on October third for a 2021 Landrover Defender. The permit says it is authorized by the Commissioner of Police, Dr Richard Rosado, the then Minister of Defence Oscar Mira and the officer in Charge of Corozal Customs Station, Elmer Torres. We asked all three public officials for comment and Torres answered saying he could not comment and that it was being looked into. Commissioner Rosado told us, quote, "To the best of my recollection, I have no knowledge of what you are speaking about...grateful if you could provide the documentation."
We note that the permit does not bear any of their signatures, but it is a legitimate and numbered "TP" - as they are called - and it was used to allow the bulletproof SUV into the country, no duty paid, with usage confined to the zone. It was issued for a month - to be renewed on November second, and while we could not confirm that it was renewed, we have confirmed that the vehicle was still in the Zone today. It carries Mexican plates.
The permit was granted to Jose Vela who is a key figure in Corozal Free Zone Operations. He was also the target in an unsuccessful hit on September 12th in Paraiso village at the entrance to Corozal Town where he was injured by gunfire. That attempt - we are told - was part of the ongoing friction between rival groups in the Zone where the two key figures from the zone, Vela and Nitin Buxani have both been targeted in different unsuccessful hits.
