Three Guatemalans Arrested in Chiquibul National Park with Firearms

Three Guatemalans were arrested and charged after being found by Friends for Conservation (FCD) in the Chiquibul National Park. Last Thursday, FCD rangers were on patrol from the Rio Blanco Conservation Post to the illegal road, constructed by Guatemalans, in the southern portion of the Chiquibul National Park. During the patrol, the joint forces unit encountered three Guatemalans 400 meters within the boundary of the park.  The men were detained, searched, and found with live ammunition rounds, a point-twenty-two rifle, a 16-gauge shotgun and a wooden homemade handgun.  They have been identified as 51-year-old, Rigoberto Caal; 48-year-old, Hector Canan Hernandez, and 32-year-old, Isaias Caal Coc. According to the FCD, the men are from the nearby village of Monte Los Olivos in Guatemala.  The men were transferred to the San Ignacio Police Station for further investigation by the Police, the Forestry Department and Immigration.  Love News understands that Monte Los Olivos has been the prominent community engaged with illegal gold panning for many years in southern Chiquibul. They have also been practicing crop cultivation for many years.