Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD), the NGO co-managing the Chiquibul National Park with the Forest Department, reported a bust today of illegal Guatemalans raping the Belizean forest of its resources in a wave of incursions that may have cost the nation tens of millions of dollars.
FCD reported that the Joint Forces Unit in the Chiquibul Forest—a team of Belize Defence Force, Police and FCD personnel—was on a mission on Friday, November 18, in the area of Tunkul, located 10 kilometers (over 6 miles) from the western border with Guatemala, when they intercepted illegal loggers.
“Sounds of chainsaws could be heard from a distance,” said the FCD. “But prior to arriving to the zone of impact, a boy aged 14 was found on one of the tracks. He had been extracting xate.”
They also found the boy with 3 horses loaded with 12,000 xate leaves, the organization said.
“He reported that the xate was being transported to one, Rudy from Guatemala,” said the report.
They explain that minors are used, because they can quickly elude authorities in the forest.
According to FCD, the boy reported that he had been bringing the xate from the area of Monkeytail River, 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) far inside Belize.
“Since he is yet considered a child, the Unit did not handcuff him,” said the FCD.
The end result was not surprising—the boy escaped back into the jungle.
In another encounter that day, FCD said that they had come upon a group of Guatemalan loggers, and those who saw them first began to shout.
“This alerted the other loggers, but because of the sound of the chainsaws, one remained, found cutting the log,” said the FCD.
As a result, they nabbed an armed logger, Evelio Adelso Romero, a villager of Las Brisas de Chiquibul in Guatemala.
“In his possession was a rifle and three .22 bullets,” the FCD reported. “Another firearm was also recovered in the area: a 12-gauge shotgun and five shotgun shells.”
The report said that Evelio was cutting lumber to be transported to Nueva Armenia, where a man identified as Carlos Martinez buys the lumber, which is transported to Guatemala City.
The logger reported that he is paid 125 quetzales per day, roughly BZ$35, for cutting the logs, said the FCD.
“The Chiquibul Forest Joint Enforcement Unit personnel estimated that there were at least 8 persons operating in the area, 8 chainsaws and 4 firearms,” they added.
Evelio Romero was subsequently taken to the San Ignacio Police Station, where he was handed over to police.
“It is expected that he will be charged for possession of an unlicensed firearm, unlicensed ammunition, illegal logging and illegal entry,” said the FCD.
FCD has reiterated the urgency of increased surveillance to curb illegal Guatemalan activities inside Belize.
We understand that they are having meetings and making presentations to key Government officials this week.