Bulletproof Vehicle Controversy Hits Free Zone

Tonight, questions swirl around a bulletproof SUV parked inside the Corozal Free Zone, and the man behind it. Jose Vela, a key figure in Free Zone operations, was granted a temporary import permit for a 2021 Land Rover Defender, outfitted with ballistic protection. The permit, issued in October, allowed the vehicle into Belize duty-free, restricted to the Zone. But who approved it? The document reportedly cites top officials, including the Commissioner of Police and the former Minister of Defense, though none admit signing off. Customs is now investigating. Vela, meanwhile, was the target of a brazen shooting in September near Paraiso Village, a failed hit believed to be linked to ongoing turf tensions in the Zone. Prime Minister John Briceño says there’s no law against bulletproof vehicles and suggests Vela may simply be taking precautions after the attack. Still, the optics raise serious questions about security and oversight at the border.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Yes, I think that Mr. Vela, that’s his name? I think they tried to shoot him, was it in September and probably he wants to see how he can protect himself. Maybe it’s just a precaution, as far as I can tell.”

 

Reporter

“But is it a normal thing that’s usually approved by customs, a bulletproof vehicle?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Well, I think you need to speak with the customs department and also the attorney general’s office. But I will just tell you this part, and I don’t want to get into a back-and-forth. From what I am told, there is no law that prevents anyone from bringing in bulletproof vehicles. There are several, as I am told, there are several organizations, businesses, and some people that have these vehicles to protect themselves probably, like in the banks, for instance, and they’re have been no issue.”