Caye Caulker Man Fined for Weed Possession with Intent to Supply

A young construction worker from Caye Caulker is now facing a financial penalty after he was caught in Belize City with a parcel containing 59 grams of marijuana and a charge of possession with intent to supply. The accused, 24-year-old Justin Gentle, appeared unrepresented this morning before Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers, where he pleaded guilty to the drug charge. This marks his first drug related conviction. According to police, the incident occurred on Monday when officers from the Precinct 1 Support Unit were patrolling near the West Canal area across from the Wax House when their attention was drawn to a man in a red shirt and blue jeans riding a bicycle against the flow of traffic. When the officer shouted at the man to stop, he reportedly looked back at the police vehicle but continued riding toward the George Street area. During the brief pursuit, officers observed the suspect throwing an object from the front of his pants. The package was retrieved in his presence and found to contain eight individually wrapped parcels of suspected cannabis. Gentle was detained and taken to the Precinct 1 Police Station along with the bag of marijuana. A search of his person also yielded $112 in cash, comprising one $50 bill, three $20 bills, and one $2 bill, which authorities believe to be proceeds from drug sales. The cash was confiscated and submitted as evidence. In court, the Chief Magistrate explained that the charge was elevated to “possession with intent to supply” rather than simple possession due to the manner in which the drugs were packaged and the amount of cash found on Gentle at the time of arrest. Gentle was fined $800 plus $5 in court costs.  He was given until September 30, 2025, to pay the fine or face three months’ imprisonment in default.