Deadly Warning at Western Border; Customs Officer Threatened
A threat posted at one of Belize’s busiest border crossings is now the focus of a police investigation. Customs officials arriving for work this morning found a chilling message directed at veteran customs officer Luis Betancourt, warning in Spanish, “You leave or you die.”
Luis Betancourt
The development comes just weeks after Betancourt took charge of operations at the western border, a post known for persistent battles against smuggling and other illicit activity. With investigators still trying to determine who left the message and whether it came from the Belizean or Guatemalan side, authorities are treating the threat as a serious security concern. As vigilance increases at the border, questions remain about who is behind the warning and what may have motivated it. CEO in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, says investigators are still working through many unanswered questions. We also heard from Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero on this troubling incident.
Hilberto Romero
ACP Hilberto Romero, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“This morning, police went to the cargo area of the customs department where they saw some writings, a threat on a piece of cloth. The scene was processed and we are currently conducting an investigation, reviewing video footage to see who placed that, uh, piece of cloth with the writing at the gate.”
Reporter
“Are there any cameras in the area?”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Yes, there is a camera there so that is being reviewed to see what can be seen on the footage.”
Elton Bennett
Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, C.E.O., Ministry of Home Affairs
“There’s a lot of uncertainty at this stage. The Belize Police Department are working with different agencies, including the customs at the western border, discovered a sign that they interpreted at this time to be a threat to Belize public officer and they are currently in the area doing investigation. At this time there’s a lot of uncertainty. The investigators are out there canvassing, they’re seeing and trying to gather as much intelligence as they can from surveillance footage and from interviews with individuals in the area.”
Shane Williams
“ What kind of work go into something at the border? Is this a kind of tricky situation to handle because some would believe the threat comes from across the border?”
Rear Admiral Elton Bennett
“I wouldn’t be able to speculate or comment on that, where it came from at this stage. If it’s from across the Guatemalan side or from the Belizean side, I can’t comment on that at this time. When a situation like this occurs at a sensitive area like the border, we tend to work a little bit closer and, and exchange information as it comes alive. So yes there is a heightened awareness at the border as it relates to our security.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero confirmed there are surveillance cameras in the area where the threatening message was left, and police are reviewing the footage.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
Watch the full newscast here: