U.S. entertainer fined $2,700 for cannabis import at PGIA

An American entertainer learned an expensive lesson in Belizean law today after being fined two thousand seven hundred Belize dollars for importing 387 grams of marijuana, just over a quarter pound, into the country. The accused, 25-year-old Elijah Quartey Mack of Fort Worth, Texas, appeared before a senior magistrate where he pleaded guilty to the charge of importation of a controlled drug.  Mack arrived in Belize yesterday, aboard a Delta Flight from Atlanta, Georgia, when customs officials at the Philip Goldson International Airport discovered three vacuum-sealed bags of cannabis hidden inside his grey suitcase. The total weight of the substance was 387 grams.  Unrepresented in court, Mack quickly admitted guilt apologized for his actions, saying he meant no disrespect to Belize, adding that marijuana laws in his country differ from those here.  The Senior Magistrate noted that the amount of drugs constituted an aggravating factor, but took into account Mack’s remorse and personal circumstances, including that he cares for a disabled brother. Rather than a custodial sentence, the court imposed a non-custodial fine, initially set at $5,300 but reduced to $2,700 after deductions for remorse and his early guilty plea.  Mack, who is in Belize on a five-day vacation visiting family, was ordered to pay the fine forthwith since he is a non-Belizean. He was able to settle the amount before 12 noon today and was subsequently released.  This marks one of the highest fines recorded for marijuana importation in recent years, reflecting the courts’ strict stance on controlled substances entering the country.