Corozal businessman slapped with $94,015 in fines after massive illegal seafood bust

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Corozal businessman has been slapped with more than $94,000 in fines after pleading guilty to illegally importing hundreds of pounds of jumbo shrimp and tilapia fillets along with octopus into Belize.

Leslie Lizarraga, 34, appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court alongside 51-year-old David Romano Arana of Consejo Village following a Fisheries Department operation on September 3.

Lizarraga pleaded guilty to three counts of illegal importation and was fined a total of $94,015, while Arana pleaded not guilty and the prosecution subsequently withdrew all three charges against him.

The case arose after Fisheries officers, assisted by police, intercepted a silver GMC Sierra pickup along the Hattieville-Boom Road following a brief pursuit.

Authorities say the vehicle initially turned around and sped away from officers before eventually losing control and ending up in a ditch.

A search reportedly uncovered seven boxes containing 335 pounds of jumbo shrimp, another 58 boxes containing 1,566 tilapia fillets weighing approximately 290 pounds, and a bag containing 14 pieces of octopus.

The Fisheries Department had previously confirmed the seizure, saying the seafood was suspected of having been illegally imported and that both the vehicle and products were taken into its custody. The department warned that unauthorized seafood imports can present food safety and phytosanitary risks and undermine legitimate businesses that comply with Belize’s import requirements.

After seeking a sentencing indication from the court, Lizarraga’s attorney, David McKoy, entered guilty pleas on his client’s behalf. The court took into account that Lizarraga was a first-time offender and had saved judicial time by pleading guilty, opting for fines rather than imprisonment.

Lizarraga was fined $5,000 for illegally importing the shrimp, another $5,000 for the tilapia and $5,000 for the octopus, along with court costs.

The heaviest penalty came from the 1,566 tilapia fillets, for which an additional fine of $50 per piece amounted to $78,300. The 14 pieces of octopus attracted a further $700 penalty.

The prosecution also applied for the forfeiture of the GMC Sierra used to transport the seafood. McKoy objected, telling the court that the pickup does not belong to Lizarraga and arguing that its owner must be given an opportunity to oppose its forfeiture.

The Magistrate agreed to adjourn the forfeiture application until the vehicle’s owner can be notified and heard. The pickup remains in Fisheries Department custody.

Fisheries officials have since said their intelligence indicates illegally imported seafood has been moving into Belize regularly and supplying businesses including resorts and supermarkets. The department says investigators are also tracing potential buyers of the illegal products.

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