Law Enforcement Personnel Come under Gunfire by Alleged Contrabandistas

Julio Sarseno

A police constable and a B.D.F. corporal were shot by suspected contrabandistas on the Rio Hondo River in Santa Cruz Village, Orange Walk District. Around eight-thirty p.m. on December twenty-second, a joint security patrol was traversing the bank of the river when they spotted three men in a canoe with flashlights on the other side of the river.  The joint patrol, consisting of B.D.F., Police and Customs personnel, came under gunfire and in the process; Police Constable Hassan Lucas and B.D.F. Corporal Julio Sarseno were injured. The men were rushed to the hospital for medical treatment, while their attackers escaped. Now it is known that earlier that day, the security team had confiscated a number of contraband goods in the area.

Hassan Lucas

While it is not known whether the confiscated items were for the shooters, it is known that authorities would often times come in contact with hostile villagers who engage in this illegal activity. Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvett shares details.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“Orange Walk Police were called to Santa Cruz Village in the Orange Walk District where upon arrival, they observed two members of the security forces who were on a joint patrol, namely police constable Hassan Lucas, twenty-four years and Julio Sarseno, a B.D.F. Corporal, with apparent gunshot injuries. They were transported to the Northern Regional Hospital where Sarseno was treated and released, whilst Lucas remains under observation in a stable condition. What we know so far is that those officers were on a patrol along with others along the banks of the Rio Hondo River when they observed three persons across the Mexican side of the river in a canoe. Shortly thereafter, they heard a number of shots and this is when those persons received the injuries. Police officers at the current moment are on the scene trying to process the scene further since it is now day time and trying to gather whatever information they can with regards to this investigation.”