Will Guatemala Request Budna’s Extradition?

Joseph Myvett

This afternoon Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvett explained why Budna had to be released after being picked up and detained since Thursday.  He told the media that they are looking into a previous drug trafficking offense for which Budna was arraigned in the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court.

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“He had to be released from police custody on Saturday evening late as there has been no request made for him by the Guatemalan authorities.  That is one and we know that he had a pending matter in the San Ignacio Magistrate’s court which we are still looking at as well.”

Reporter

“Sir, I have seen an Interpol red notice for him, it’s on the Interpol website.  Explain to me how you all treat that.”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“What happened is that a person will not be extradited based on only an Interpol red notice, there has to be some form of request made for him to be extradited to that country and that would have to be done through the courts.”

Reporter

“And so is it complicated also by the fact that he’s a Belizean and you can’t just give him an order to leave or an expulsion.”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Well we will see where that goes from here, whereas I’ve mentioned before that we had to release him, however, we are still looking at the pending matter that he has.”

Reporter

“Okay, now what happens in the event that the Guatemalans do make a request for him after the fact…”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Well that will have to go through the normal process before that can be done.”

Reporter

“What is the pending matter before the San Ignacio court?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“It is a drug trafficking case.”