7 News Belize

Customs and “Pelones” Have A Showdown on The Belize – Mexico Bridge
posted (January 26, 2017)
An explosive scene played out on the old Belize-Mexico bridge at the Santa Elena border today - leaving a Belize police corporal with a burst head. And it could have gotten much more serious, even deadly if a senior customs officer hadn't kept his cool. That officer is Jason Menzies who had his hand on his firearm as Mexican thugs taunted him.

Here's what happened: the Mexicans buy bulk clothing from the Corozal Free Zone in sacks - which are called "bultos". Recently, in he past two weeks, they've started stockpiling those "bultos" on the Belize-Mexico bridge - which is frowned upon by both Mexican and Belizean authorities. So, following a meeting with border officials from Mexico on Monday, Belize's Customs Officers moved in today to take possession of the "bultos" and clear the bridge. But, that's when the Mexicans border thugs - known as "Pelones" went into outlaw mode, and here's the scene that played out next. It opens with Senior Customs officer Menzies placing his hand on his weapon. At this point the police corporal had already been stoned in the head:

Colin Griffith - Comptroller of Customs
"The Mexican authorities form the Chetumal border had asked for a meeting with Belize Custom and that meeting was held on Monday. I was not in the meeting. We had one of the officers who were in that meeting. Their main concern was the Mexican nationals who were stockpiling goods from the Belize side of the bridge. Immediately we informed free zone management and they themselves say that they want to address the said concern. Instructions were given to Corozal and police unit out there to do intermittent patrols to ensure that we don't have those situations repeated. So Customs from Corozal and the enforcement unit that were up there with police went to place those goods in Customs custody and that was when the altercation arose. We have been informed since that Mexican authorities have arrested 2 of those individuals and also we can say with confidence that no time did Belizean officials enter Mexican territory. At no time that occurred. The Mexican have agreed that no time did Belizean authorities enter Mexican territory."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"But if you look at the video, it appears that there was no support from the Mexican side."

Colin Griffith - Comptroller of Customs
"Well, I saw the video and I were informed by my officers who were there that the Mexican authorities did go on the bridge."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"How will you stop this going forward?"

Colin Griffith - Comptroller of Customs
"In communicating with free zone management, they will be having a meeting with their local Chamber of Commerce within the commercial free zone to ensure that the buyers be compliant in respect that goods that must go directly into Mexico or else they either stay in the free zone otherwise deposited at the custom at Santa Elena. That is what they intend to address. For the period of time we will be having officers at the rear gate for the commercial free zone. What I know right know exportation has been suspended."

So that's what happened and both Mexican and Belizean authorities confirm that it happened on the Belize side of the border.

And while it looked like the Mexican authorities were doing nothing to help, according to the Acting Comptroller of Customs - the two sides had a meeting on Monday where they both agreed to crack down and clear up the bridge:...

Again, this was the old Belize- Mexico Bridge which now connects to the village of Subteniente Lopez.

Tonight, after the disturbance, the exit from the Corozal Free Zone remains closed on the Belize side, and access is also blocked on the Mexican side. The Mexican Embassy in Belize told us, quote, "We understand that this incident occurred in the Belizean side of the International Bridge.."

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