Guatemalan murder suspect apprehended

Late last week a joint B.D.F./police unit thought they were on a routine patrol in Toledo but a tip from villagers led to an unusual find. They also apprehended a man wanted for murder in another country. On October seventh, Guatemalan brothers Jesus, Virgilio, Otoniel and Roberto Ramirez were found on a farm near San Vincente Village with two unlicensed firearms and a wide assortment of unlicensed ammunition for several guns, including an M-16 rifle and a fifty-millimeter machine gun. Today Roberto and Otoniel Ramirez were convicted in the Punta Gorda Magistrate’s Court of five counts of illegal possession of weapons and ammunition. They were fined one thousand dollars or six months imprisonment for each count and were remanded to police custody. Jesus Ramirez was acquitted of all charges and was released. Belizean authorities have learned that Virgilio Ramirez is wanted for murder in Guatemala, which is probably why he gave a false name to the police. He will be handed over to Guatemalan security personnel. For lying about his identity he received an additional fine of one hundred dollars. While the B.D.F. and police maintain they were in Belizean territory when the search and arrest occurred, the Guatemalan press is alleging the men were on Guatemalan territory at the time.