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www.channel5belize.com Police have arrested one of a gang of men they believe has been terrorizing tourists in the Cayo District. The break in the case came on Monday when police say thirty six year old Guatemalan Marcus Chiquin Molina was detained by local authorities after he had crossed the border into Belize. Today police commissioner Gerald Westby did not want to discuss the specifics of the case but said based on their investigation, the accused was definitely involved in the series of armed robberies.
Gerald Westby, Police Commissioner
“Well we have made an arrest in relation to the robberies out in the west. We have arrested a guy Marcos Molina, a thirty-six year old Guatemalan and charged with a number of the robberies, tourist related and other robberies out in the west. We feel that he was a part and parcel of the band. But it is an ongoing investigation and a press release will be issued later today. I know you will be getting and I wouldn’t want to comment further on it at this time.”
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
“Was he positively identified?”
Gerald Westby
“He was positively identified in several parades that were conducted over the weekend.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“What has the working relationship been like between the Belize and Guatemalan authorities?”
Gerald Westby
“Well in terms of exchanging information and coordinating border patrols it has been excellent.”
Molina has been positively identified as one of the bandits involved in at least four of the robberies that occurred between March and May. He has been charged with four counts of robbery and was remanded to Hattieville Prison until September eighteenth when he is scheduled to reappear in Belmopan Magistrate's Court. As for how the suspect miraculously appeared on the Belize side of the border, our sources in Cayo can only echo the words of the Commissioner in saying that relations with Guatemalan authorities have indeed been excellent.