BELIZE CITY, Thurs. May 27, 2021– Yesterday, videos surfaced on social media that showed two fuel trucks being escorted to the Customs Department compound in Belize City. Reports are that the trucks were intercepted just about 600 yards from the Guatemalan border and that they contained about 6,000 gallons of fuel that was smuggled into the country.

This attempt to illegally import fuel into the country occurred at a time when consumers were still finding it difficult to obtain a normal supply of fuel from the service stations locally.

While supply levels are scheduled to be normalized by Thursday, it seems that illegal rings were trying to take advantage of the limited supplies while there was an opportunity to profit from the shortage.

Their plans were, however, foiled by the efforts of the Customs and Excise Department. Reports are that the department has been on a three-week operation, tracking the dealings of a contraband ring located in Calla Creek, Cayo.

Two men were detained, one Belizean and the other Guatemalan. They were caught driving the two trucks just outside Calla Creek. Around 4000 gallons of regular fuel and 2000 gallons of diesel were estimated to be in the trucks.

Those two men were detained, pending an investigation, but it is expected that charges will be levied against them for the illegal attempt to import the fuel.