“Road Pirates” Increasing Pressure on Belizean Car Dealers  

Buying a car in the U.S. and driving it down to Belize might sound like a smart way to save money, but for some vehicle importers, that journey is becoming more dangerous than ever. While the cost savings can be tempting, the road through Mexico is increasingly risky. One local car dealer, who asked to remain anonymous, told us he recently witnessed a friend being robbed while transporting a vehicle. He described the trip as a grueling experience, one where ‘road pirates,’ from organized criminals to opportunistic thieves, are turning what used to be a routine drive into a high-stakes gamble. Tonight, we take a closer look at the growing threats facing Belizean car dealers and ask: is the savings really worth the risk?

 

On the Phone: Car Dealer

“Again, when you jump across the border, that is where the better part of the action happens and it does not matter if its morning, noon or night. The risks involved in getting from point A to B, point A, the Los Indios Border to Corozal border. It is really a cat and mouse game. On Monday we were coming in a convoy, five six of us, the guy right in front of us, we were going at a nice speed, sixty, seventy, and the guys, I want to say “road pirates”, they are waiting for us, from the time we left the border we are targeted.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And that individual was robbed?”

 

On the Phone: Car Dealer

“Yup, right in front of me. And if I had stopped I would have gotten robbed too.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How do these robberies play out?”

 

On the Phone: Car Dealer

“The tactics they use, you have to be careful where you stop. Late last year I got spikes thrown in front of me. It was only God that got me through that. I passed through those spikes. And then, what happens, there are two set of robbers, the cartels that will pull up in front of you and you have to stop. No work around, you have to stop. Then the second one is the local thieves. They try similar tactics. They are the one that is the most dangerous. They will kill you for a quarter. So they will tell pull up beside you and tell you to stop and if you are in a bigger vehicle you can take the risk and outrun them. But majority of them it doesn’t make sense, because most of us are towing and it becomes difficult to maneuver the vehicle while towing.”