7 News Belize

Cops Bust Human Smuggling Operation In Benque
posted (April 4, 2016)
A human smuggling operation was busted this weekend in Benque Viejo. According to reports, sometime on Saturday night about two truckloads of police raided a home on Mahogany Street, in Benque Viejo Town. 12 Salvadorans, including 1 minor and 1 female were found inside. None of them had any cash or passports. The only thing in their possession was Salvadoran identification cards. They were believed to have been smuggled across the border, and then put up in a house by a couple from Benque. The smuggling operation had been ongoing for some days - and, investigators believe, that when the group gets large enough, they would then be taken north to Corozal, for smuggling to Mexico, and from there to the US.

How did they get into Belize? Well, sources suggest that they may have been taken right across the border in a vehicle that usually isn't checked.

Now as we said before, these persons were smuggled and not trafficked inside Belize. But in situations like these, especially cases involving minors, the difference between the two becomes muddied and a smuggled person might become a trafficked person.

CEO in the Ministry of Human Development spoke to us about when and how they get involved in instances of the illegal transshipment of human beings.

Judith Alpuche, CEO - Ministry of Human Development
"We do get involved when it comes to unaccompanied minors. As a matter of protocol though when there are people being smuggled, they are still screened. Particularly children - they are still screened to ensure that they are not victims of trafficking, because sometimes it becomes really grey and they lines can be crossed quite easily. So, especially as it relates to minors. As I said, they are screened and if its determine that at any rate, the Ministry of Human Development will step in to take custody of the child and then we work with their countries of origin to get them repatriated or to ensure that they are safe."

The Department of Immigration is currently investigating the matter as illegal entry and they will criminally charge the 12 Salvadoreans.

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