Belize Tourism Industry Association
#10 North Park Street, P.O. Box 62
Belize City, Belize
Tel.: 227-1144, Fax: 227-8710, E-mail: admsec@btia.org
For Immediate Release
Chiquibul Bandit Ring Leader Captured
BELIZE CITY, Belize (September 22, 2006) - The tourism industry of Belize has just received one of the biggest Independence Day presents anyone could ever ask for. Guatemalan national Marco Javier Molina, the suspected ring leader of the Chiquibul gang that terrorized the Cayo District for almost a year prior to his last assault in June 2006, is cooling his heals in a Belizean jail.
As the paint was drying on the newly installed line-up room at the Benque Viejo Police Station, the suspect was paraded and positively identified. The one way window addition donated by the members of BTIA had a worthy christening that will assist in protecting the identity of witnesses while working as an effective law enforcement tool for our officers.
Marco Javier Molina was apprehended by members of the Belize Police Department after a lengthy and persistent investigation. His lawless gang held the tourism industry under siege and created international travel advisories, canceled reservations and financial losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Lucy Fleming, President of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) remarked that,
"The members of the BTIA would like to officially offer our highest praise to the dedicated members of the Belize Police Department, the Belize Defense Force and Belize Forestry Department who have continued to persevere under both personal and financial hardships to bring us one step closer to the eradication of this threat to our industry.
This is a perfect example of the positive impact that can result from an open and committed cooperation between the private industry and our law enforcement and defense agencies."
The tourism industry might not be celebrating today if it were not for the generous donations from the individual members of the BTIA and our partner, the Belize Tourism Board as well as the Protected Areas Conservation Trust.
Particular gratitude must also be shown to the general business community for their support with special thanks to the Spanish Lookout Mennonite Community.
"It was truly a community effort that supplied our law enforcement officers and soldiers with the necessary vehicles, equipment and financial assistance to mount an assault against this serious threat to everyone's safety and livelihood", Fleming added
To our members who have worked tirelessly to support the investigation and to our police officers and soldiers, we once again say thank you.
For more information, please contact the BTIA at telephone 227-5717 / 1144, E-Mail: info@btia.org or visit our website at www.btia.org.
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