Police Leading Rio Hondo River Operations; BDF Lending Support

The Belize Police Department, with support from the Belize Defense Force, has been conducting increased operations along the Rio Hondo River in the Orange Walk District. This is being done to address the security concerns in that area that stems from an increase in cartel activities within parts of neighboring Mexico. The Rio Hondo River has long been a hot spot for border jumpers, contrabandists, human traffickers and narco-traffickers. But, with the perceived threat stemming from recent occurrences, law enforcement officials and the Government of Belize are taking no chances. Significant resources are being pumped into law enforcement efforts along the northern border. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Belize Police Department and the Belize Defense Force have increased their presence along the Rio Hondo River, in response to a recent uptick in cartel-related violence in neighboring communities along the Mexican border.

 

Colonel Anthony Velasquez, Deputy Commander, Belize Defense Force

“The area has always been an area of interest for us. There has always been the contraband issue. There has always been human trafficking and also the drug trafficking issue. Recent occurrences in Chetumal area, the Quintan Roo area has brought to our attention that the security issue has become increase.”

 

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams describes the operation as highly sensitive.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“This is a very highly sensitive operation that we’re conducting and because of the nature of the operations, we cannot include NGOs or persons who are not a part of the security apparatus in the planning for several reasons.”

 

According to ComPol Williams, the Government of Belize has spared no resources to equip the department in its efforts along the northern border.

 

Chester Williams

“I can say that whenever we approach the Prime Minister for equipment or resources to be able to carry out our mandate, the Prime Minister is always willing to assist.”

 

The Belize Defense Force is working alongside the Belize Police Department in this operation. But BDF soldiers act only in a support role. It is the police department that is leading the charge; however, the BDF has doubled its troop presence in the area. The effectiveness of these operations is depends on the relationship that the BDF has with its Mexican counterparts.

 

Colonel Anthony Velasquez

“It is a very pivotal relationship. We share information. The Mexican military impart critical information to us that helps us to perform our operations in an effective manner. So, it is a very important relationship. Also, we share information with them when it is necessary, and we coordinate our actions along the border. So, there is there is a hot spot or a flash point, we coordinate the area and saturate the area on both sides of the border in order to maintain peace in the area.”

 

These types of operations are not foreign to the Belize Defense Force. It has provided support to the Belize Police Department in intercepting numerous drug planes and detaining suspected narco-traffickers. The Belize Defense Force is also equipped with air and riverine assets. Colonel Velasquez says that the show of increased presence alone acts as a deterrent.

 

Colonel Anthony Velasquez

“Majority of our operation are to maintain military presence and deter illegal activity out there. So, we also have operatives in the area that are intelligence operatives. They are covert, but generally we saturate the area with soldiers so that people can see we are patrolling. We are doing vehicle patrols, river patrols and foot patrols so that people can see we are out there, and we also do intelligence driven operations where we receive critical intelligence and we react to that, always in conjunction with the Belize Police Department.”

 

These operations undoubtedly come with several risks. Common dangers include encounters with wild animals and falls. Greater risks include encounters with armed cartel elements. That is why the riskiest operations are assigned to the elite units within the BDF.

 

Colonel Anthony Velasquez

“Yes, Belizeans should feel safe. However, that does not negate your personal responsibility to take care of yourself as well. Do not travel in these areas. Do not cross the border illicitly in these crossing points. Many Belizeans do. You are putting yourself in danger. But law-abiding citizens should be confident that the police department and the Belize Defense Force are out there to maintain our territorial integrity, our sovereignty, and to maintain the rule of law.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.