Who Approved $1.1M in Payments to J&J Imports? ‘Not I’, Says Minister Cervantes

Orange Walk North Area Representative Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes says he had no involvement in J&J Imports receiving business from the Ministry of National Defence.

His comments come after leaked government records reviewed by News Five showed the company received more than $1.1 million in payments from the ministry between 2022 and 2025.

Cervantes acknowledged that he is related to one of the company’s principals but maintained that he had no involvement in the procurement process. “I had nothing to do with it. I had no involvement in that, at all,” Cervantes said.

The leaked SmartStream records shows that many of the payments were made through invoices valued below $10,000. The records also show that Enrique Javier Requena, who is associated with J&J Imports, received more than $275,000 in payments between 2021 and 2022, also through multiple invoices below $10,000.

News Five has not seen any evidence that the payment structure, on its own, was improper or that either J&J Imports or its representatives engaged in wrongdoing. The records form part of a broader review of procurement practices at the Ministry of National Defence.

Prime Minister John Briceño has said there will be no political protection if the ongoing audit uncovers wrongdoing. “If there was any wrongdoing, be it public officers or politicians, they will have to answer,” the Prime Minister said.