We understand from a credible source that shortly after 3:00 p.m. today, five vehicles packed with tourists were heading from the Maya site when a group of seven Hispanic bandits, some masked and some unmasked, armed with shotguns and pistols, ambushed them.

The group was about 6 miles from the Maya site when the men sprang from the bushes with weapons in their hands. They held up the tourists and tour guides, stripping them of cash, credit cards, cameras, cell phones, jewelry and other personal items before vanishing into the bushes from whence they came.

We were informed that although the men were armed, they fired no shots and no one was hurt in any way during the robbery.

The groups of tourists were being hosted by various tour companies in the Cayo area, but the names of these companies were not revealed.

We don?t know the total value of personal effects and money that was stolen, but the reports to our newspaper say that the victims were left with only the clothing on their backs.