And while that one is high profile - it's not the only act of enforcement that the Forestry Department has been busy with.
On Friday, January 9, 2026, Forest Department officers, in joint operation with rangers from Programme for Belize and the BDF were in the Shipyard Area when they found 5 men in possession of thirty- one (31) Mahogany logs without a valid forest permit. They were arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of Forest Produce.
In court, they pleaded not guilty, and the case was subsequently adjourned. The confiscated forest produce remains in the custody of the Forest Department pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
And in Caye Caulker on Sunday, January 11the at 4:30 a.m., officers from the Caye Caulker Police Formation conducted a search of a 25-foot vessel named "SURVEYOR."
Present at the time were Ronal Noe Martinez, captain of the vessel; Donald Guevara; and Johan Penner. The vessel was found transporting twenty-five (25) palm logs, each measuring approximately sixteen (16) feet in length. The individuals were unable to produce a valid forest permit, and the vessel did not possess a valid seaworthy certificate.
Johan Penner pleaded guilty to the charge of Unlawful Possession of Forest Produce and was fined $7,500 dollars to be paid by December 1, 2027,
Members of the public are encouraged to report any forest-related infractions to the Forest Department Hotline at 610-1524.
