6 Belizeans are detained in Puerto Cortez, Honduras tonight - and they could be the suspected pirate gang that has been terrorising southern seas and shuttling between hideouts in Belize and Honduras.
HCH Digital News out of Tegucigalpa is reporting that a joint operation this morning in the Baja Mar community of Puerto Cortez resulted in the arrest of 6 Belizeans and two Hondurans allegedly in possession of outboard engines.
It is the result of a large law enforcement operation in that country called ALTO IMPACTO -part of a region-wide security initiative. Here's what Puerto Cortez police commander Frank Gallo told HCH News:
Translated
"In the area of Baha Mar is where the 6 Belizeans were detained. They are responsible for the robbery of 3 boat engines to traffic drugs. They are being process for expulsion to their country."
The 6 Belizeans include a 17 year old minor. The names of the adults are as follows:
25 year old Jaime Nolberto Coote, 28 year old Vincent Esron Martinez, 19 year old Fernando Avila, 20 year old Justin Floyd Palacio, and 40 year old Jeremy Waylon Leslie, and, the minor.
All of the men have extended rap sheets here in Belize. As you heard, they remain in custody there facing immigration charges for illegal entry, news reports say the INTERPOL Unit in that country is coordinating their expulsion to Belize.
We are told the boat engines are linked back to Belize - and will be checked closely against piracy incidents in these waters - including the case of four men who went missing off Dangriga in December and have not been found.
The arrest is also the product of local law enforcement's hard work. The Coast Guard, the Fisheries Department and the G-I-3 unit have been working tirelessly with their Honduran counterparts - and a significant piece of bi national law enforcement cooperation. The Acting Commandant of the Coast Guard, Greg Soberanis told us that he is very pleased that they have been caught - and he looks forward to them facing charges in Belize.
Voice of: Cmdr. Greg Soberanis, Acting Commander Coast Guard
"We also got information that they were planning to actually return to conduct some more robberies and then quickly return to Honduras. So we were anticipating their return because we heard that they were planning on making their way back to Belize and so just today we sat down and we planned how we would position ourselves in order for a possible intercept from them coming back from Honduras. So we are happy that they have been caught by the Honduran authorities and from what I have been informed is that our police counterparts are working with the Honduran authorities in having them being handed over to the authorities here in Belize. So hopefully that can occur and that they can come back and face the consequences of their actions here in Belize."
"I am pleased with the efforts that the coast guard, fisheries and GI3 the work that they've been doing over the past few weeks. I know the guys have been from all 3 organizations have been working diligently both locally and like I said with our Honduran counterparts in bringing these perpetrators to justice, so on our side we are extremely pleased with the outcome to today."
He says this bi-national law enforcement effort did also result in the recovery of a stolen vessel which one of the pirates had brought back to Belize.
We'll keep following this breaking story.
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