Click here to print
Customs Caught Contraband In Carmelita
Fri, February 5, 2016
For weeks we've been reporting on vegetables - mainly local farmers in Orange Walk stuck with fields lined with carrots they couldn't sell. That brought into focus the larger issue of legally imported vegetables, which the Ministry of Agriculture has to balance against local production. But, contraband also plays a huge role in the market dynamics - especially because the Mexican vegetables are more attractive than the locally produced ones.

And the Customs Department saw proof of that before dawn this morning when a large Ford van loaded with five to six thousand pounds of assorted vegetables was busted in Carmelita Village. Here's what happened: Customs got word that the van had moved off from one of the 16 or so illegal landings along the Rio Hondo river in Orange Walk. Customs set up to capture the van on the northern highway, but it sped up, jumping the speedbump in Carmelita at mile 40. That's when the back wheel blew out most likely due to the massive weight in the van.

That's when the Customs Department pulled up and three men - one with dreadlocks and two Hispanic males - dashed off into the bushes on the side of the road.

The Customs officers didn't pursue them because of the associated risks, instead they moved to secure the vegetables.

And it was quite a load, there were 30 cases of tomato, 16 cases of lettuce, 11 sacks of carrots, 10 sacks of lime, 12 crates of pear, 2 crates of mango, and 12 sacks of onions. All told, it was almost 100 sacks of products stuffed into the van. Customs puts the value at five thousand one hundred dollars.

The vegetables and the van were impounded - and Customs is searching for the owner. Apparently, the registered owner sold he vehicle to someone else and he didn't change the registration.

Customs officials say this kind of bust is only a drop in the bucket for the thriving trade in contraband produce. They say this van is part of a network of skilled operators who have an entire system of smuggling - which only went wrong today when the van had a blowout. There's also a ready market for it, because the vegetables are so attractive - including huge heads of lettuce and glowing red tomatoes.

Close this window