14 charged with Illegal Entry, unable to meet bail

And in a story we aired last Thursday fourteen persons who were intercepted by police for illegal entry into Belize, the group remains in police custody in Belmopan. The fourteen nationals of Taiwanese, Guatemalan and Salvadoran nationality, were fined a thousand dollars each on charges of Illegal Entry when they appeared in the Belmopan Magistrates’ Court today and were unable to meet the fine. When they were busted by the cops at the Burrell Boom checkpoint around one last Thursday morning they were along with thirty-one year old Antonio Castillo of Corozal Town, heading north. Police and Immigration authorities conclude that the foreigners entered Belize illegally from the western border point but evaded Immigration checks. Castillo, who is believed to be an agent in the smuggling ring, was reportedly carrying the group of fourteen in his pick-up truck. He was slapped with charges of Assisting in Illegal Entry, pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. While they were nabbed in the Belize District, the group was taken to face charges in the west of the country because that was where they entered Belize.