BENQUE VIEJO DEL CARMEN, Cayo District, Wed. June 10, 2020– Despite the fact that Belize’s borders with Guatemala and with Mexico are closed because of the COVID-19 virus, people are still coming into the country illegally.

This evening, while officers of the Customs Department were conducting routine patrols along the western border, they saw two Guatemalans, whom they stopped, and they discovered that the men had come across into Belize illegally.

The men were carrying two sacks —one containing vehicle parts, and the other containing medicines.

The two men were immediately detained for illegal entry into Belize and for possession of contraband goods.

They were taken to the police station, and were handed over to the Ministry of Health, who placed them into quarantine for an initial 14 days, during which they will be monitored and tested for the COVID-19 virus.

If the test results are negative, they will be returned to police for charges to be laid against them.

The Guatemalans will be additionally charged with violation of COVID-19 regulations, and if they are found guilty, the sentence carries a fine of $5,000, or a 3-year prison sentence, followed by immediate deportation.