Police Says Immigration Department Not Linked to Fraudulent Documents
Last month, police raided the Double Zero establishment in Lake Independence. Along with a quantity of drugs and unlicensed firearm, the team uncovered several fraudulent immigration items, including visas and entry stamps, believed to be used for illegal immigration operations. The Department of Immigration has denied any involvement or knowledge of these activities and explained why they didn’t disclose all the details to the public. In a statement released today, the Government of Belize emphasized their commitment to a thorough investigation into corruption, highlighting the serious breach in security protocols and potential complicity by public officers. Earlier today, Jules Vasquez demanded that the department host a press conference to disclose the details of the investigation. The department, however, begs to differ. In a statement released earlier today, the Government of Belize stated, “In our Ministry, which falls under the Office of the Prime Minister, our focus must be on a credible, careful, and comprehensive investigation into corruption, particularly as it suggests a serious breach in our security protocols and complicity by public officers within our Ministry. Our goal is to end corruption in the Ministry, and with such sensitive issues and players within the investigation, we regret to inform Mister Vasquez that we cannot keep him apprised of every move made at the Ministry level or within the Belize Police Department,”. Here’s Commissioner of Police Chester Williams with more on the case.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“From a police investigation standpoint that issue has nothing to do with immigration. It so happens that it’s an individual who happened to have in his possession some Asian passports, Asian national passports, and within those passports contained some police visas. He also had with him some immigration stamps. We have done our investigation and it has been confirmed by The Department of Immigration that the visas in those passports are not authentic. The stamps are not authentic either. They are a replica of what immigration had. So it would appear as if this was an individual who was operating on his own. We have not unearthed any ties to anybody from immigration colluding with him. I can say that I had briefed the Prime Minister on this issue when it first occurred. And the Prime Minister’s exact words was, Commissioner. Please pursue the investigation to the fullest and go after who you need to go after. And the police is operating under that instructions from the Prime Minister. And we have not been able to find any link to immigration. It’s just a person who was on his own accord developed these things for his own purpose. And so called immigration scandal I think is taking it too far. So it’s a very thin line. If Mister Ashburn is working with immigration, then yes, but he’s not an immigration officer. So you cannot equate his conduct to the Department of Immigration.”
Reporter
“Has he been cooperative?”
Chester Williams
“He has been interviewed by the police. The police have received certain information from him. And I believe that by the end of this week. The police should be levying charges against him in respect of those fake visa and fake stamps.”
Reporter
“Do they know how he got hold of the fake stamps?”
Chester Williams
“In an interview that was given by his wife, she alluded to them being given to him by an Asian national.”
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