Jose Mai Rejects Cartel Allegations, Addresses Safety & Budna Case

You’ve heard José Abelardo Mai explain why he resigned. Now comes the harder part: the allegations that followed. In his first interview since leaving office, we asked Mai directly about three serious claims: alleged cartel ties, whether his safety is at risk, and any role in the abduction of Joseph Ryan Budna. He denies all of it, defends his conduct, and challenges his accusers to show evidence. As you watch, ask yourself: What facts are verified? What’s only being repeated online? Who stands to gain from these claims, and why now? Here’s his response to the cartel allegations.

 

Jose Abelardo Mai, Former Minister

“Oh, the media is in particular one or two media houses have just all they have is allegations. If there was any evidence, it would’ve been set forth already. I have done nothing wrong and I have done nothing illicit, and there is no evidence to prove that of me.”

 

Shane Williams

“But have you been threatened by the cartels?”

 

Jose Abelardo Mai

“Absolutely not sir. No sir. None at all. I don’t even know who cartel members are. I don’t want to know them and I don’t want them to know me. I just read what I see from the cartels in Mexico. It’s just horrible. And I think that some media people just keep repeating these people’s names and I think they don’t understand the level of danger that they get themselves into when they do that because you don’t even want to mention those people name.  These people from what I see, look at our Belizeans traveling through Mexico. They extort them. They beat them. They tortured them. And you are going to mention these people name? No sir. I have never that I know of had any contact with these people and I don’t want to have contact with them, don’t intend to have contact with them. And I don’t want them to know me or have contacted me none at all. I keep away from those things. Those are very delicate matters, life threatening. You don’t want to get involved with these people, so I have never, sir, never contacted those people or been in contact with them that I know of. Now, we must understand that nobody walks around with a sign on the shirt that says I’m a Cartel, but that I know of consciously sir, No, never.”