By Belize Live News Staff: Police are searching for a taxi driver who allegedly robbed a Guatemalan merchant at knifepoint on Sunday evening. The incident occurred off Arenal Road near Benque Viejo, a short distance from the Guatemala-Belize border.
The victim, a 69-year-old, said he boarded a beige taxi from the Benque Viejo bus terminal intending to travel to the border. The driver diverted the route, claiming to retrieve an item, before threatening him with a knife. Police reports indicate the assailant stole approximately $1,700 in Belizean currency and 1,000 Quetzals, the merchant’s day’s earnings from his business in Belize City.
“I’ve seen this driver before,” the victim told police, “but I don’t know his name.” The merchant, who has crossed into Belize daily for 20 years, was left shaken but unharmed. The suspect is described as a medium-built, Hispanic man with brown skin and short straight black hair.
Authorities leading the investigation are reviewing surveillance footage from the area to identify the taxi driver. Police are appealing to the public for any information that may aid in the suspect’s capture
