7 more Guatemalans busted for Xate

Almost a week after two Guatemalan youths were busted for illegally harvesting Xate leaves in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, on Sunday, seven more Guatemalan nationals were arrested after they were found doing the same thing. Authorities say around eight thirty that morning, the police and BDF were on a joint jungle patrol in the Caracol Archeological Reserve in the Cayo District, when they came upon the men along with four horses carrying the Xate leaves. The men were unable to produce their documents and as a result, all seven have been detained pending charges of illegal entry and possession of forest produce. The illicit harvesting of Xate for use in the ornamental plant industry in Guatemala has long been a source of friction with Belize as Guatemalan Xateros penetrate deeper into Belizean territory in search of the valuable plant.