Several Stolen Vehicles from Benque are Recovered in Guatemala

Joseph Myvett

The police have been cracking down on the number of vehicles which have been stolen and taken across the western border into Guatemala. While there has been progress, today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvett confirmed to the media that two vehicles that were stolen have been located in Guatemala and the process has begun to have the vehicles returned to Belize and its owners. Myvett says that the dialogue between Belize and Guatemalan counterparts continue in an effort to prevent these types of crimes.

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“Benque Viejo Police were contacted by our Guatemalan counterparts, members of the Policia Nacional Civil in Melchor who reported to them that they had recovered a red Ford Explorer Sport, which is believed to belong to Alvara Gongora, which was stolen in Benque Viejo a few weeks ago. Also, they had recovered earlier in the week, a gold Toyota hilux which was also found abandoned at a farm in the Melchor area and that vehicle also is believed to belong to Santiago Molina, which was also stolen a few weeks back on the Arenal Road.”

Duane Moody

“Sir, so how do you deal with those cases?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“At this time, the papers are in process and there has been cooperation between Belize law enforcement authorities and the Guatemalan law enforcement authorities where several of these vehicles have since been handed back in these types of cases.”

Duane Moody

“What is the police doing in terms of prevention?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“The police have definitely stepped up their operations over the last few weeks. If you notice there was a constant trend and then it suddenly, based on the new strategy, have subsided. So the police will continue to maintain effective strategies in these places in order to continue to minimise the incidents of crime.”