4 Mexican soldiers released with undeclared weapons

Four Mexican soldiers are on their way back across the border after they were released by police. The four were apprehended just before ten on Monday night on the Northern Highway when they were found with an undeclared weapon. The soldiers reportedly arrived at the Burrell Boom checkpoint in a white Mazda four-door car bearing Mexican license plates. When local police officers searched their vehicle they discovered a nine millimetre gun in the glove compartment which the soldiers had failed to declare, nor could they provide a valid license. The soldiers, whose names were not released, were kept in custody until shortly before four this afternoon when they were given back their weapon and allowed to exit the country in their vehicle. The release of the soldiers, according to Press Officer with the Mexican Embassy, Marcelino Miranda, is in line with a section of the Geneva Convention, which requires countries not at war with each other to hand over military personnel.

Marcelino Miranda, Press Officer, Mexican Embassy
“In this case, members of an army, according to international law, they receive a different treatment by the authorities of a country.”

Marion Ali
“I’m just trying to see the balance here.”

Marcelino Miranda
“Actually, this is related to international law.”

Marion Ali
“That each country should abide by.”

Marcelino Miranda
“Exactly, each country because the people in this case, those four Mexicans are members of the Mexican army. In this case the international law applies to members of any country.”

Marion Ali
“So if the four Belizeans who are in the Mexican prison, if they were soldiers they would have been released as well?”

Marcelino Miranda
“Actually, this part of international law I’m talking about is applied to any members of any army. So this part of international law applies for a member of an army from the Mexican army, from the Belizean army; from any army in the world.”

Meanwhile, four Belizeans, all employees of the Las Vegas Casino in Corozal, remain in prison in Chetumal pending trial for an incident in July in which they entered Mexican territory following a shootout at the casino.