BELIZE CITY, Fri. Aug.7, 2020– The Belize Coast Guard has commenced an operation called Blue Lightning, which is designed to secure Belize’s territorial waters, and to ensure that our maritime borders remain secure, and also, to stop illegal activities in our seas.

River patrols to apprehend contraband runners, border jumpers and illegal entries into the country will also be carried out.

Operation Blue Lightning was rolled out with a toll-free phone number, 999, that can be dialed anytime to seek assistance or to provide information to the Coast Guard on any illegal maritime activity.

Deputy Commandant of the Coast Guard, Greg Soberanis, said that the operation is a layered security defense strategy which is conducted 7 days per week, 24 hours per day.

The operation also targets human smuggling and narco-trafficking.