Since Monday, we've been telling you about the crazy story of the Belizean businessman who narrated his tale of extortion in Chetumal at the Fiesta Inn.
The Mexican embassy said that it's an isolated case, affecting only one Belizean out of an estimated thirty thousand that travelled to Quintana Roo over the Easter weekend.
Today, the National Security CEO told the press that his ministry had to get involved, and the information that they've been given from their Mexican counterparts suggests that this businessman's case is indeed isolated:
George Lovell, CEO, Ministry of National Security
"We do have our friends over in Chetumal you know, and so if a request is made for them to assist and quite often if there in danger or if life is being threatened we rendered assistance."
Reporter
"Did the ministry get involved in this case?"
George Lovell, CEO, Ministry of National Security
"Yes we had rendered assistance."
Reporter
"Is there any situation where there is danger to Belizeans to go across from Chetumal, I would assume that you all have also done an assessment."
George Lovell, CEO, Ministry of National Security
"It seems to be an isolated incident. And one where the persons that were involved made a request and we had rendered assistance."
Reporter
"From what you have been able to investigate, there is indeed credibility to what is being said?"
George Lovell, CEO, Ministry of National Security
"It appears so from the feedback I got that there were calls made. What we don't know, if the people to whom they have a portion blamed to, were in fact the ones who had orchestrated this, don't know. It could have been that someone who knew the target was, who thought that it was an opportunity for them to extort, could have done this themselves and not necessarily organized criminal elements that the media report is eluding to."
Mexican Authorities have an active advisory about telephone extortion. The advisory states that the calls are usually about a bogus prize winning, or use fear and intimidation.
The numbers usually come from area codes 066 or 089, and the advisory says you should avoid giving personal information to strangers.
And they call and ask you "Who's speaking? " always reply " Who do you wants to speak with?". Of course, in those case, they called the businessman's room already knowing his name and particulars - likely due to collusion inside the hotel.
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