Mexican Military Crackdown in Chetumal Amidst Cartel Violence, Sparks Concerns in Belize

The Mexican government has launched a military operation in neighboring Chetumal amidst an uptick in gun violence and organized crime. Over this weekend, the Mexican government deployed hundreds of soldiers to the State of Quintano Roo to suppress a rise in cartel activity. The state, known to Belizeans for its capital, Chetumal, is being overrun by two cartel groups using violence to control the state’s drug smuggling, human trafficking, and transportation of illegal goods. The criminal elements have begun to carry out daylight murders and executed a former prison director yesterday. The Mexican government has stated that it will be going after the criminals and locking them up. The crackdown has led many to speculate whether members of the cartel groups will be seeking to evade Mexican law enforcement by crossing our porous borders. Today, our newsroom asked the Belize Police Department about the possibility. Here’s what Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero had to say. 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding, Eastern Division: “We received some information, and again we will analyze it and then determination will be made as to what action will be taken.”

Our newsroom will have more on this story in tomorrow’s newscast.