A recent Caye Caulker drug conviction has landed a young construction worker in hot water after he pleaded guilty in court. On Monday, June 2, 24-year-old Justin Gentle was caught with marijuana, leading to charges for possession with intent to supply.
Gentle, unrepresented by legal counsel, appeared before Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court. He received an $800 fine along with a $5 court fee. Magistrate Rogers gave him until September 30, 2025, to pay. If he fails to do so, he faces a three-month prison sentence.
The incident unfolded around 8:45 a.m. in the West Canal area. Officers from the Precinct 1 Support Unit were on patrol when they spotted a man riding a bicycle against traffic. Acting on a tip, police signaled him to stop. Instead, he fled toward George Street, discarding a suspicious package during the chase.
Police quickly recovered the item. Inside, they found eight individually wrapped parcels of cannabis, weighing a total of 59 grams. They later apprehended Gentle and took him into custody for questioning. Officers also discovered cash on him—one $50 bill, three $20 bills, and a $2 bill—which they suspect were proceeds from drug sales.
Given the packaging and amount of cannabis, the charge was upgraded from simple possession to possession with intent to supply. The presence of cash further supported the prosecution’s case.
This Caye Caulker drug conviction marks Gentle’s first offense. He now has until the end of September to clear his fine or serve time in jail. Authorities continue cracking down on illegal street-level drug activity throughout the Belize District.
