Belize, Guatemala, and US to Discuss Combating Illicit Activities Along Borders and Sarstoon River

Belize will meet with Guatemala and the United States to discuss combating illicit activities along Belize’s borders and along the Sarstoon River. In October, Prime Minister John Briceno stated that the reason the Guatemalan Armed Forces do not want the BDF in the Sarstoon is because they are enabling drug trafficking in the area. Following his statement, BDF Commander Brigadier General Azriel Loria stated that the military was also concerned that the GAF may be taking part in illicit activities. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtney, the concerns have resulted in a meeting to discuss a plan of action. 

Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs:“Well, I would say first of all the forward operating base the construction is about to start if it hasn’t started already. Secondly, we have for some time been concerned about the activities that are taking place along the border and in the Sarstoon and I’m talking about illicit activities. We have engaged the Guatemalans on this and in fact we will be having a further meeting next week with the Guatemalans directly on this issue. We have engaged our friends in the United States and other countries explaining to them the risks and challenges that we are seeing and we expect that we will be receiving some specific support that I don’t want to discuss publicly but it’s a matter that’s of high priority to us.”

The PM’s statements were made to a group of residents in Barranco.