Florencio Marin Jr. Outlines Safety Plan for Corozal Free Zone

Security is tightening at the Corozal Free Zone as concerns grow over cartel activity and drug trade. Today, Minister of Border Defense Florencio Marin Junior told us Belize is teaming up with Mexico to tackle these threats head-on. The government has already pumped eight million dollars into ‘Operation Northern Fortress’, a major push to give security forces the tools they need to protect the northern border. And with the Free Zone opening to Belizeans this Tuesday, Marin shared what’s being done to make sure your shopping trip is safe.

 

Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of Border Defense & Border Security

“There’s increased economic  activity on our Belizean side, on the Mexican side, and we always have to keep our security apparatus up to speed. I know that there’s always a negative connotations there, but it’s not necessarily out of reaction to that. It’s that we just have to stay ahead. I actually, I wish we could get some more investment up there to improve the security apparatus of there.”

 

Britney Gordon

“But what does it look like right now in terms of that that security that you guys are increasing there?”

 

Florencio Marin Jr.

“If you notice the last week there was a donation of the accommodations for the soldiers, the ATV for the police, so that our prisons can be more felt, that we can react more quickly if should anything arrives.”

 

Britney Gordon

And we know that on Tuesday will be open to Belizean. Can we anticipate that everything will be going smoothly there in terms of ensuring safety on both ends?”

 

Florencio Marin Jr.

“Yes. We have been assured that all the different departments, Because it’s not just secured otherwise. Remember we have the customs, you have the immigration, you have the free zone authorities, everyone is working together to be able to have a smooth operation on a day for the to go and to be able to in the Freezone.”