Plans in place to increase patrols to prevent reoccurrence

According to San Ignacio Police, the Kotay siblings are still in the country recovering from their ordeal. Statements from Manisha and Kathen reveal that they were not robbed of any personal belongings or cash. Deputy Officer Commanding the San Ignacio Police Formation, Inspector Reymundo Reyes, says that the rescue would not have been possible without the assistance of residents in the Paslow Falls Area. Plans are currently being put in place to increase patrols in the area to prevent the reoccurrence of the crime.

Via Phone: Insp. Reymundo Reyes, Deputy O.C., San Ignacio Police Formation

“I believe that because of the swift movement of the civilians themselves along with the police cause these other two persons who had these people in custody to let them loose and make good their escape by crossing the river in the Paslow Falls Area into the Calla Creek Road and then making their way towards the border line.”

Duane Moody

“What so far have your investigations shown as to who were the perpetrators, etc?”

Reymundo Reyes

Via Phone: Insp. Reymundo Reyes

“At this moment, we do not know who actually are these persons. We believe that they are from Guatemala, but we are trying to work with our counterparts to see if any information could be gathered in what we can do in respect to this case.  Yes we know that it is three to four persons involved. The police caught sight of three persons making their way towards the Santa Rosa Area, close to the borderline, but their identity, we do not know at this moment.”

Duane Moody

“What does this say to the security measures that we have when it comes to not only tourists, but Belizeans on a whole, when it comes to being so close to the western border and having these incursions into the country by Guatemalans to perpetrate these kinds of crimes?”

Via Phone: Insp. Reymundo Reyes

“We have to realize that we live in a new area right now. Crimes like this is not common in Belize, but common in Guatemala. We live right in the adjacent zone which we know that with due time, such crimes will actually start to maybe get common in Belize.”

Duane Moody

“So how are you guys planning to ensure that something like this, at least if you cannot stop it, try to minimize the reoccurrence of something like this?”

Via Phone: Insp. Reymundo Reyes

“Our plan is to just increase patrols in that vicinity—both by the military, our police officers are the Bullet Tree Check Point and we from San Ignacio.”