A police officer has been charged with offences related to human trafficking. On Saturday night after 9:00 a San Ignacio police patrol chased after a heavily tinted SUV. When they caught up with the vehicle, they found PC Edif Alex Sierra at the wheel and 8 undocumented Salvadorans crammed in the back seat - 4 adults and 4 minors under the age of 16. Now, we have heard reports or allegations of police involvement in these kinds of operations but this is the first time a police officer has been directly criminally charged for trafficking related offences. Today police told us more about this major bust and expressed his disappointment with the PC's direct involvement.
Supt. Richard Rosado, OC, San Ignacio "Police and a team of volunteer special constable were conducting anti-crime patrols within the Santa Elena Town area and upon reaching in front of the Ministry of Works compound on the George Price Highway, the police attention was drawn to a black in color heavily tinted SUV vehicle bearing no license plates. The said vehicle then overtook the police mobile and the police subsequently intercepted the vehicle. Police subsequently approach the said vehicle and notice that there were 8 persons in the vehicle with the driver. The drivers of the driver was requested where it was learnt to be a police constable from Benque Viejo formation. The occupants of the vehicle were all learnt to be Salvadorans; 4 adults and 4 minors and they had no travel documents with them. Statements have been recorded and a joint investigation had been launched by the Human Services, Immigration and Police. We are still trying to ascertain exactly who is the ring leader, what the connection they have to the driver and what's not. We believe it's a ring that originated probably from Salvador and they have contact in Belize. More than likely they will be charged for immigration offences and the police officer will be charged for facilitating the transportation. It is sad that when we have a police officer abusing their authority involving in criminal activity. In fact the Commissioner of Police have a zero tolerance to police abusing their authority and he have order an internal investigation as well as a criminal investigation."
The police constable was charged criminally by the immigration department for Aiding and facilitating in the commission of an offence under the immigration act. He was also charged by police for failure to affix registration plate to his vehicle and drove unlicensed motor vehicle.
Disciplinarily, he was charge for facilitating the transportation of 8 undocumented immigrants for which he plead guilty and dismissal was recommended.
Sierra was transferred from PG to the Benque Viejo Police Formation only a month ago. Interesting to note: On Saturday night the patrol also spotted 2 other vehicles they believe were also transporting undocumented immigrants. But they sped off. Police believe they were heading to Belmopan to the Help for Progress Office. Rosado says his officers deals with about 20 human tracking cases like these a week.
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A police officer has been charged with offences related to human trafficking. On Saturday night after 9:00 a San Ignacio police patrol chased after a heavily tinted SUV. When they caught up with the vehicle, they found PC Edif Alex Sierra at the wheel and 8 undocumented Salvadorans crammed in the back seat - 4 adults and 4 minors under the age of 16. Now, we have heard reports or allegations of police involvement in these kinds of operations but this is the first time a police officer has been directly criminally charged for trafficking related offences. Today police told us more about this major bust and expressed his disappointment with the PC's direct involvement.
"Police and a team of volunteer special constable were conducting anti-crime patrols within the Santa Elena Town area and upon reaching in front of the Ministry of Works compound on the George Price Highway, the police attention was drawn to a black in color heavily tinted SUV vehicle bearing no license plates. The said vehicle then overtook the police mobile and the police subsequently intercepted the vehicle. Police subsequently approach the said vehicle and notice that there were 8 persons in the vehicle with the driver. The drivers of the driver was requested where it was learnt to be a police constable from Benque Viejo formation. The occupants of the vehicle were all learnt to be Salvadorans; 4 adults and 4 minors and they had no travel documents with them. Statements have been recorded and a joint investigation had been launched by the Human Services, Immigration and Police. We are still trying to ascertain exactly who is the ring leader, what the connection they have to the driver and what's not. We believe it's a ring that originated probably from Salvador and they have contact in Belize. More than likely they will be charged for immigration offences and the police officer will be charged for facilitating the transportation. It is sad that when we have a police officer abusing their authority involving in criminal activity. In fact the Commissioner of Police have a zero tolerance to police abusing their authority and he have order an internal investigation as well as a criminal investigation."