Alleged Sea Pirates to be Remanded to Central Prison?

Alleged Belizean sea pirates Jaime Nolberto Coote, Vincent Esron Martinez, Fernando Avila, Justin Floyd Palacio, Jeremy Waylon Leslie and a seventeen-year-old minor – all reportedly from southern Belize – will soon be spending time behind bars at the central prison in Hattieville. The group of men were busted Honduran authorities in the Baja Mar community of Puerto Cortez with stolen engines and other items earlier this week.

Commander Gregory Soberanis, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard

“I believe that the police will do their due diligence in processing these individuals with the second phase of this investigation with these coastal pirates.”

Gregory Soberanis

Duane Moody

“…that’s linking them to other crimes that had been happening here in Belize?”

Commander Gregory Soberanis

“Right. Linking them to some of the robberies that have occurred in our southern waters. So I believe that is ongoing. It is now in the hands of the police. There were two main groups. The coast guard along with its key partners have been collaborating and we’ve been working diligently in dismantling the core of these criminal networks, but we’ve also been relentless in pursuing their associates. So what has transpired here is only phase one of our plan. So by no means is this done, by no means is this the end. We will continue to ensure that we follow the leads; we’ll continue to ensure that no stone is unturned as we try to locate the associates of these individuals and ensure that they are brought to justice.”