American Visitor Fined for Importing Marijuana into Belize

An American visitor’s trip to Belize has been cut short after she was fined in court for attempting to bring marijuana into the country.  Thirty-five-year-old Gia Fields, a ramp agent of the Bronx, New York, appeared unrepresented before a Senior Magistrate in Court #7 on Friday, where she was charged with the importation of a controlled drug.  Fields, who arrived in Belize on Thursday morning aboard a Delta Airlines Flight from Atlanta, wasted no time in pleading guilty to the offense. In court, she apologized for her actions, stating that she mistakenly believed it was acceptable because she is a smoker.  The court noted that the offense is a serious one, with a starting point of three thousand dollars. However, Fields received a reduction due to her early guilty plea, which earned her a one-third discount, as well as additional consideration for showing remorse.  As a result, the fine was reduced by a total of fifteen hundred dollars, and she was ordered to pay the remaining fifteen hundred dollars forthwith.  Police say that on Thursday officers responded to a request for assistance at the Philip Goldson International Airport as Customs officials detected a strong odor of cannabis during a routine check.  A subsequent search revealed a plastic container concealed in Fields’ bosom, along with three additional packages hidden in her pelvic area. The substance was later confirmed to be marijuana, weighing approximately fifty-two grams.  Fields was detained and escorted to the Ladyville Police Station, where the drug was processed in her presence.  Authorities note that the importation of controlled drugs carries penalties similar to drug trafficking, which can include fines of up to ten thousand dollars and imprisonment of up to three years. However, in this case, the court exercised leniency based on the circumstances.