Ten Thousand Officers Deployed in Mexico’s Cartel Crackdown

Belize continues to step up its defenses, as government leaders warn that the country cannot afford to ignore the growing threat of cartel activity in the region. Reports from Mexico say cartel violence has now reached Chetumal in Quintana Roo. The Minister of Police, Oscar Mira, who also oversees the free zone, says patrols have increased on Belize’s side of the border, while Mexico has deployed nearly ten thousand soldiers and police to crack down on criminal groups operating nearby. But Prime Minister John Briceno warns that Belize needs more support, especially from the United States, saying equipment, intelligence, and training are critical if the country hopes to stay ahead of the danger. And he’s blunt, if Belize doesn’t act decisively now, the next decade could look very different.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The Minister of Police is also in charge of the free zone. And, um, we have ensured now that the police can do more rounds in the area, ensuring that everything is running properly. So far, you know, things have seemed to have quieted down. And, we’re certain that on the other side because the Mexican government has sent down to about ten thousand, soldiers and the national police, local police, to be able to go after some of these cartels. And they’ve been arrested. So, things have kind of eased up somewhat. But we, from our side, we continue to monitor the free zone. Well, they were never in the free zone, but we continued to monitor the river and that area to ensure that we can keep the people out. My discussion with Secretary Rubio was that it is important that we get the necessary assistance, especially from the United States. We need equipment we need intelligence, and we need training. And the United States have all three of them. And I believe that, that they can help us now. I’ve been saying it from the time I became prime minister. If we do not act decisively now, 10 years from now, we could probably be looking at a different Belize. And we don’t want to go down that road. We do not have the resources. We do not have the wherewithal, to be able to fight off the cartels if they come into Belize and then…and they get fully involved in Belize.”

 

Belize’s leaders say they’ll keep pressing for the support needed to stay ahead of the threat before it reaches our doorstep.

 

 

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.

 

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