Tonight, 8 Hondurans, all believed to have been smuggled into the country as part of a human trafficking ring, are at the Belize Prison.
That's after they've been charged by the Immigration Department for illegal entry. They are Vicente Romero Pinedo, Juan Francisco Valeria Romero, Angel Alvarado Carcamo, Samuel Perez Garcia, Silvinio Rodriguez Martinez, Luis Pineda Cruz, Reina Isabel Aguilar Garcia and Alba Luz Aguila Portillo, all of whom claim to be farmers living in the village of Crooked Tree. They were busted by Eastern Division Rural Police, and today the Commander told us how the cops learnt that they were here:

ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural
"Yesterday our officers stationed at Crooked Tree intercepted 9 Honduran nationals; 3 female and 6 male who were in Belize illegally waiting to be transported further north and they were brought in and handed over to the immigration authorities."

Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News
"What were the details of how they were found?"

ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural
"The details of how they were found we will not release at this time because it will then put in jeopardy some strategy that we have in place for a future operation."

Daniel Ortiz
"Sir do you all have an idea or have any leads as to who the ring leader is smuggling these people into this country?"

ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural
"We have an idea I can say that it's an international ring linking Salvador, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico."

They were all arraigned in the Magistrate's Court today, and they pleaded guilty. Magistrate Emerita Anderson sentenced them to pay a fine of 1 thousand dollars forthwith. They couldn't do so, and if they are unable to make arrangements to pay within a short grace period, they will have to spend 8 months in jail.