Police Say Kidnapping Victims, Luis and Johan Camara, are Upstanding Citizens

Luis Camara and his seventeen-year-old son, Johan, were safely returned to Louisville, Corozal on Friday after being kidnapped by a Mexican cartel in the Subtiniente Lopez area of Quintana Roo. This morning, the Commissioner of Police provided more details on the incident and expressed growing concerns about cartel activity near the northern border. ComPol Williams also mentioned that police operations in the Corozal District have been significantly ramped up.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“From what we have been made to understand that that kidnapping did have to do with the cartels in Chetumal.  We are happy that the outcome is what the family and the entire Belizean society had hoped for, that these two individuals were returned home alive.  I can say with certainty that the family, the father and son who were kidnapped, from our records, they are not persons of questionable character.  They seem to be outstanding people and so that had puzzled us as well in terms of why would they have been kidnapped.  But nonetheless, we are happy that they have been returned home to their families and again, Belizeans going over to the Mexican side is something that we have to look at and decide on our own if it is that we want to go or not.  The cartel issues in the Chetumal area is certainly intensifying.  We maintain our strong presence in the Corozal and Orange Walk districts, in particular along the irregular border crossing area.  Our northern operations are being very, very effective in keeping the cartels and their operatives at bay.  It is not to say that our efforts cannot be infiltrated, but I can say to you and the Belizean people that it is going to take a lot for that to happen.”