An Orange Walk drug bust led to the arrest of a pastor and six fishermen on March 18, 2025. Authorities intercepted their vehicle and discovered 1,137 grams of suspected cocaine intended for trafficking.
Pastor Mark Anthony Humes, 52, from Burrell Boom Village, and the fishermen—Lerman Norman Leslie, Freddy Estuardo Chavez, Angel Aragon, Marvin Teul, Ronyer Alexander Cruz, and Christian Merilyn White—were all charged. The Mobile Interdiction Team (MIT) and Highway Interdiction Team (HIT) stopped their gold Dodge Caravan while they were traveling from Belize City to Orange Walk.
They pleaded not guilty in court. However, the Senior Magistrate denied bail, remanding them to Belize Central Prison until their next hearing on May 22, 2025. During the proceedings, Angel Aragon considered pleading guilty, but the magistrate warned him of a possible prison sentence.
Update:
Pastor Mark Humes is a free man. The drug trafficking charge has been withdrawn. His co-accused – fishermen from the North- remain remanded on the same charge.
According to Humes attorney, police investigation has revealed that Pastor Humes was hired to transport the fishermen and had zero knowledge that they were transporting more than just fish.
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