Posted: Saturday, January 6, 2024. 10:03 am CST.
By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that investigations revealed that the 200 sacks of sugar found on a truck busted in Orange Walk this week was indeed purchased from BSI.
“While yes, we have established that the sugar was purchased from BSI by a person who is legally authorized to purchase from BSI, that person has a quota and he purchased his entire quota. That person then sold the sugar to two individuals who are of Guatemalan nationality. The grey area is that they were found in Orange Walk District. While we may all say that the intent was to export the sugar, it is difficult to prove because they were found well within Belize’s territory. I don’t believe that the sugar was going to Independence, that’s my personal opinion, I don’t believe it, but it is not about what I believe, it is about whether or not there is sufficient evidence to prove otherwise. At this time, there is none,” Williams said.
The Commissioner says that he has consulted with the Ministry of Agriculture and they are saying that in order for a person to export sugar, they must apply for an export permit which is issued to them to be able to export sugar.
“But in the current climate where there is a shortage of sugar, they’re not issuing export permit for sugar, so there is no way that those individuals would have been able to export the sugar legally. Perhaps, illegally, yes, so because of the circumstances under which the sugar is found we are unable to do anything and it will have to be returned to them. And what will have to happen is that we will have to monitor them and see what they do with the sugar,” Williams added.
In addition, police in Benque Viejo also intercepted a post office van.
The van was searched and it yielded three sacks of white sugar from Guatemala along with other contraband items.
The driver was detained and Customs will proceed with that matter.
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The post Police deals with contraband sugar moving over Belize’s borders appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Saturday, January 6, 2024. 10:03 am CST. By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that investigations revealed that the 200 sacks of sugar
The post Police deals with contraband sugar moving over Belize’s borders appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
