The Commissioner of Police (ComPol) Chester Williams visited the high-risk border villages of Santa Cruz and Douglas in northern Belize on Monday, July 27th. Williams was there revisiting police strategies as well as law enforcement when dealing with illegal border crossing and contraband from Mexico. These activities have led to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the Orange Walk District, prompting the Belize Police Department to establish hotlines to report these illegal activities.
ComPol Williams is appealing to the general public to help in identifying illegal smugglers and border jumpers by calling the designated hotlines: 0-800-SAVE-BZE (0800-7283-293), 0-800-JUMPERS (0800-586-7377), or 0-800-BORDERS (0800-267-3377).
The recent increase of persons caught illegally at the border have also prompted authorities to create info-videos in English and Spanish in an attempt to deter this unlawful activity. The information shared in the videos emphasize the danger the country is exposed to when persons travel illegally from Guatemala or Mexico into the country. Cases of the deadly disease in those countries have spiked significantly, with many dying daily.
Currently Belize has recorded 48 cases, two deaths, 26 recovered and 20 active. The surge in cases has been attributed to illegal border crossing and contraband. The Orange Walk District, which borders Mexico, has recorded a total of 17 positive cases. This is the part of the country that has reported the highest number of infected persons, followed by the Belize District with 16 cases.
As police and military personnel continue to man the borders to discourage illegal border jumping and contraband, those involved are reminded of the repercussions. Anyone caught entering Belize illegally while the borders remain closed will be fined $5,000 BZ and/or imprisoned for up to two years.
