By Breaking Belize News Staff: Police are investigating serious allegations of extortion at Belize’s Western Border after a Honduran woman reported that Immigration officers repeatedly demanded money from her in exchange for entry, exit and extension stamps.
The 37-year-old woman made the report at the Benque Viejo CIB Office on Thursday, September 24.
According to the police situation report, Hernandez alleged that on January 1 an Immigration officer demanded BZ$1,200 before stamping her passport to exit Belize. She alleges that she returned the following day, placed the money inside her passport and handed it to the officer, who took the cash and stamped her out.
The woman further alleged that when she returned to Belize on January 13, another Immigration officer demanded BZ$550 for an entry stamp.
She alleged that on June 16 she again encountered the first officer, who told her it would cost BZ$400 for her entry stamp.
The woman further claims that on August 19 another Immigration officer, whom she did not know, demanded BZ$1,000 for an extension allowing her to remain in Belize.
According to the report, the woman eventually sought advice from the Immigration Office in Orange Walk on September 17 after becoming frustrated that she could no longer afford the alleged payments. She was reportedly advised to make an official complaint.
Police have obtained a detailed statement, a witness statement and copies of her Honduran passport and immigration stamps.
The allegations come less than two weeks after a separate extortion prosecution against Immigration Officer Monique Escalante was discontinued in the High Court when the principal complainant could not be located and his statement was ruled inadmissible. That case involved unrelated allegations at the Philip Goldson International Airport dating back to 2024.
No officer named in the new complaint has been charged, and the allegations remain under investigation.
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By Breaking Belize News Staff: Police are investigating serious allegations of extortion at Belize’s Western Border after a Honduran woman reported that Immigration officers repeatedly demanded money from her in exchange for entry, exit and extension stamps. The 37-year-old woman made the report at the Benque Viejo CIB Office on Thursday, September 24. According to
The post Honduran woman alleges Immigration officers demanded thousands of dollars for Belize entry, exit and extension stamps appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
