A BDF patrol has killed a man believed to be a Guatemalan - after he was found logging two miles within Belizean territory.
It happened yesterday evening as A BDF patrol was making its way through the Columbia forest Reservr to the Machaquilha Observation Post in extreme southwestern Belize. According to an official release, the patrol came upon three men engaged in illegal logging 3.2 kilometers, or about two miles east of the border, which is to say within Belizean territory.
The official report only says that quote "there was a confrontation which resulted in one fatality and the arrest of two persons believed to be Guatemalan nationals."
It does not disclose whether it was an armed confrontation or whether the fatality is a Guatemalan male. We understand that this has not been formed yet - but he most likely is since the two men with him were arrested and they are Guatemalan.
Police were flown into the area to do an investigation and the body is being retrieved while the two arrested persons remain detained.
In its statement, The Government of Belize expresses its regret at the loss of life and extends its sympathies to the affected family.
This is likely to unfold into another major international incident - similar to the one that occurred six months ago when the BDF killed a Guatemalan in extreme western Belize.
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