Customs Officers to be Arraigned

Joseph Myvett

Last week we reported that the Customs and Excise Department’s internal investigation into the importation of cargo from Guatemala last weekend has revealed that Customs Officer in Charge of Punta Gorda Richard Garbutt acted in accordance with his duties when he facilitated the arrival of the shipment on the night of September nineteenth. The Customs Department has made the point that the port was open for cargo so the officers did not commit any violation of the law. Garbutt and his colleague Jarrett Tillett, however, have been criminally charged for inciting entry into Belize illegally and abetment to entering and exiting Belize illegally. Today ACP Joseph Myvett says that the men charged in connection with this incident are scheduled to appear before the court this week.

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“In relation to the customs incident, those officers were charged and are slated to appear in Wednesday the thirtieth of September in the Punta Gorda Magistrate’s Court. They were charged for abetment to enter and exit Belize illegally, along with the owner of the goods. These are charges of the police. We cannot speak to any other charges in relations to customs.”