U.D.P. Alleges Minister Interfered in Sugar Smuggling Operation  

The United Democratic Party alleges that a P.U.P. minister from Orange Walk called on law enforcement officers to stand down after smugglers were caught carrying sacks of sugar across the border to Mexico. According to a release from the party, a Belize Defense Force patrol along the Rio Hondo seized a large quantity of sugar from a group of individuals crossing an irregular border point. The release asserts that one of the individuals made a call and shortly thereafter, the soldiers were instructed to stand down because the group had an export permit for sugar from BAHA. The opposition is questioning whether such an export permit exists and why the individuals decided to use an illegal border crossing. We spoke with Valentin Carillo, the administrator of the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation. B.M.D.C. distributes sugar on the local market.

 

Valentin Carillo, Administrator, B.M.D.C.

“On that I cannot say. What I would say on B.M.D.C.s part is not part of that. As I explained we bought ninety- two tons of white sugar for the domestic market for distribution from October last year to April this year which is roughly about two hundred and sixty-eight bags for branch. We divide into four branch Orange Walk, Belize, San Pedro and Bjg Falls. So that averages about sixty bags per month. When you divide it by week it is only fifteen bags a week distribute in each branch. fifteen bags.”

 

Reporter

“Are you aware of why there is a demand for Belize sugar in certain parts of Mexico?”

 

Valentin Carillo

“Well that is the high acquisition price over there. Over there is two dollars and change per pound and our one is sixty eight cents, seventy-five cents. We can assist if they say you know what let us give BMDC fifty percent of the distribution then it is a government entity. We can monitor who to sell and where to sell and even maybe bag it in one pound to dissuade people from moving this across the border. All of these things.”