American Fined After Caught Importing Marijuana at Belize Airport

Cameron David Rose, a 31-year-old American sales agent from Park Newport, California, USA, has been fined for importing marijuana into Belize after arriving at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport on Friday, May 23. Rose, who entered the country aboard Alaska Airlines Flight from Los Angeles, was found in possession of 47 grams of cannabis concealed in a vacuum-sealed plastic bag inside his luggage. At approximately 6:45 p.m., Customs Officer Dwight Wade discovered the suspicious package during a routine inspection and alerted Detective Constable Daymond Rhaburn of the Anti-Narcotics Unit. Officer Rhaburn conducted a search and located the transparent bag inside a brown leather handbag. Upon questioning, Rose admitted that the substance was marijuana. He was arrested and taken before the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 26, where he faced a single charge of importation of a controlled drug, a Class B substance under Belizean law. Unrepresented in court, Rose pleaded guilty and was fined $1,500 BZD (approximately $750 USD) plus $5 cost of court, to be paid forthwith or serve three months’ imprisonment in default. Initially unable to pay the fine, Rose was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. However, he has since paid the fine in full and has been released.