Customs wants another look at suspicious S.U.V.s

A pair of high riding Belize City motorists may soon be hailing taxis, as authorities are asking for a second look at their suspect vehicles. According to Gian Ghandi, legal advisor to the Customs Department, on Tuesday Comptroller of Customs Everard Lopez contacted the owners of two luxury S.U.V.s and requested that they voluntarily bring the vehicles in for further investigation. The trucks in question, a 2003 Hummer and Cadillac Escalade, are owned by Belize City businessmen Jose Shoman and Luke Espat respectively. The third vehicle, also a 2003 Hummer, has been linked to Corozal businessman Rafael Chavez, but was never released to him. An investigation conducted by officials at the U.S. Embassy in Belize confirmed that the vehicle identification numbers on all three trucks are false, resulting in a formal request by the U.S. to have the vehicles seized and treated as stolen. Under the Stolen Vehicle Treaty signed between Belize and the United States, such vehicles are to be immediately impounded for further inspection and if they are verified as having been stolen, returned to the U.S. News 5 understands that all three persons who bought the S.U.V.s have named a Mexican dealer as the salesman of the suspicious trucks. Sources tell News 5 that the U.S. Embassy is investigating at least two other vehicles suspected as stolen.