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Daniel Ortiz reporting
Rolling through Chetumal, it appeared calm, and at a glance, it was hard to tell that riots and looting had broken out in this, Belize most beloved Mexican City.

But, as we inspected more closely, we saw small signs of the civil unrest over the fuel prices. Here at this OXXO store, the caution tape was the remnant of the looting which happened here hours ago. We saw this other branch with the shutters down. But today was the Mexican holiday, Tres Reyes, so, maybe they were closed for the holiday.

But, make no mistake, riots did happen here, as in other parts of the country, and as this amateur video shows, police had to move in to control unruly crowds. Some of it happened right in front of the Plaza Las Americas Mall which draws large numbers of Belizeans.

We saw police maintaining a sustained presence here, ready to step in if any disruptive unrest broke out.

But despite the civil unrest in Chetumal, it didn't discourage Belizean shoppers, who went on with business as usual, trying to stretch that dollar.

Gabriela Rivero - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"I came in earlier this morning and everything is calm."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Had you known that there were the riots the last few days?"

Gabriela Rivero - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"Yes I've known because I saw it on Facebook. I saw a video where everything was with police officers but here everything is cool."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"So were you worried at all when you boarded the bus deciding to come today?"

Gabriela Rivero - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"No I wasn't."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Have you spoken to the people or the business owners?"

Gabriela Rivero - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"No only one, when we went by Parisina, shutters were down but I didn't experience anything unusual."

Another shopper we met didn't even know that anything had happened.

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"You've been in chetumal for the last few hours, what's the shopping been like?"

Natalie Flowers - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"Well its good for me I stretched my money."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Have you known that there was civil arrest, riots happened here in chetumal?"

Natalie Flowers - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"No I didn't know."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Have you seen any kind of signs that that had happened?"

Natalie Flowers - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"Neither."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"When you were around shopping did you find any stores closed that you would have normally seen open?"

Natalie Flowers - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"Yes one or two of them."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"What has it been like in terms of walking around and seeing other Mexicans and Belizeans, anything unusual that caught your attention out here? so you hadn't known anything of these riots before?"

Natalie Flowers - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"No I didn't know anything I was just hearing meanwhile I was on my way."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"When you had learnt of it was there any point at which you were concerned. Maybe you said 'maybe I shouldn't come today'?"

Natalie Flowers - Belizean Shopping in Chetumal
"No."

We met one Mexican businessman who shared his opinion of the root causes of the civil unrest, which, is the fuel price increase, and the outrage it has sparked in Mexicans.

Julio Benito - Mexican Clothing Store Owner
"I can give my opinion because technology is so advanced. But, not all is true. There is a lot that are pure lies. There are problems in other states of the country. Like in Mexico (City), Monterey, and Guadalajara, and Vera Cruz. But, they are states that are far from us, but can still affect us."

And he says, that so far, business hasn't been adversely affected.

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Do you think the incidents will increase, will there be more grave incidents?"

Julio Benito
"I don't think anymore because the Government has taken steps. There are a few people that are hurting economically. But here in Mexic there is tranquility and stability. Some people are concerned about the cost of fuel but here we have the best, here we produce, here we have the best prices at the business. There is peace, there is tranquility. The ones who say there is too much violence are telling lies. There is violence, but in other areas that don't hurt the economy. The tourism is protected. We give the foreigners priority, like our friends from Belize who like to come to Chetumal. We invite them to continue coming to Chetumal. There are no problems like the ones shown on social networks. There are problems, like every other country, but those don't need to be dramatized."

And while our team didn't get to Walmart in Chetumal - we are told by our colleagues at CTV-3 that it was looted. That was looted along with a few drugstores. This footage shows the aftermath.

Looters also did try to get into the Coppel store in Plaza De Las Americas after eight last night. Police were on the scene and arrested a group of 14 young men, some of them minors.

Looters also tried to get into the Multiplaza Chedruai but police again moved in and detained 12 more persons.

In total, 30 persons were detained by the State Preventative Police and the Mexican Navy in Chetumal.

Latest video we've seen this evening, show police cracking down on a problem neighborhood in that city. Reports say Mexican police are bracing for the possibility of more clashes with looters tonight.