JadeJ
3/26/2017 12:42 EST
My name is Jade and I am an American vacationing in Belize with my partner. We were detained and charged on March 23th along with 2 locals in Caye Caulker and charged with drug trafficking based on marijuana found in our proximity. We are innocent and maintain our innocence. We were seen before the Magistrate in San Pedro on friday afternoon. The locals we were arrested with Maurice Usher,34, of Caye Caulker and Yesenia Quetzal,28, also of Caye Caulker know that the quantity of marijuana was theirs and we had nothing to do with it, but seem willing to drag us into this regardless of the fact that it will not lessen their charges. On Friday before the Magistrate Maurice pled guilty and admitted the marijuana was his and we were not involved. The rest of us pled not guilty. The Magistrate decided not to accept the plea because she felt Maurice was only trying to protect his girlfriend. We are now in the position of having to make bail and find a Belizean citizen to sign for our release. I believe the correct term is Belizean surety. Being tourists in Belize for only 4 days we know no one here and don't know how we are supposed to accomplish this. We are obviously in very serious situation and need help/advice/counsel. I have contacted a lawyer and our Embassy but being the weekend we are not able to talk to anyone until Monday morning, when we have to be back in court. Our main concern right now is to find a Belizean surety. I understand this to be the equivalent of a bail bondsman in the US, but someone like that does not seem to exist here. PLEASE HELP!
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Kenubelizeit
3/26/2017 15:15 EST
Your best bet is to find an american /belizean that lives in Caye Caulker that will be able to help you because if you are released and you disappear then that surety will be able to stand for you in case you don't show up for your court date. Check with the owner of the hotel maybe they can help.
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JadeJ
3/27/2017 08:04 EST
Yes we are hoping to find an expat American/Belizean that could provide the signature. We have spent the weekend asking at dive shops, churches, hotels, bars if there is anybody willing to help us. We have been in communication with a lawyer in Belize city as well who believes they have no case against us, but either way we still need a signature to be released today. We have found a local willing to do this for a very large sum of cash, but our fear is we may never see this money again, and to some degree may be being extorted. Then again he may just be protecting his interests in case we don't show back up. We don't know, we know no one here, and it's hard to know who to trust and where to get help. Being over the weekend that we were left to deal with this it has been extremely difficult to try to get everything we need together. We have not even been able to discuss anything with the US Embassy yet to see if they can help. We have very limited time between when things open for business Monday morning and when we have to appear back before the Magistrate. We are hoping the Embassy has some answers/help for us.
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mgammo
3/27/2017 10:23 EST
Pay the cash , cut your losses, and get out of there...Dickie Bradley is the best lawyer in Belize, I have retained him before, he is very hard to find...Cut your losses and book on out....
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mgammo
3/27/2017 10:39 EST
But I would run that plan by the embassy and my lawyer first...You are in a stickey wicket, I pray it all works out well for you...
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JadeJ
3/28/2017 01:04 EST
We don't want to run as we know we are not guilty of anything. We believe the facts of the case will show and prove our innocence. We were extremely lucky and grateful that at the last minute we found some very decent and honest locals that were able to help us more than we could have ever imagined. Our hearts go out to these people. Because of them I think it is safe to say we saved a lot of bribe and extortion money. We are not completely in the clear yet but have very high hopes for the outcome of this situation.
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mgammo
3/28/2017 07:58 EST
I'm glad it has worked out well. It is best to be very judicious about with whom you are in close proximity to..
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hrlee7804
3/29/2017 08:18 EST
JadeJ....word to the wise! Don't think for one minute that the Belize gov. does not monitor these forums. Words like bribe and extortion used here cannot help you. I have a friend in Belize with a business that rents rooms. Travelers get online and talk about spending X number or days at a certain location. That has given the authorities cause to check his records and see if those rentals generated the proper fees and taxes..... Years ago a man called Senior Reek got ushered out of the county and advised not to return for his open views of a corrupt system....according to him anyway. Just saying you are not in Kansas, Dorothy so don't dig your hole any deeper!
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phantone
3/29/2017 11:05 EST
Sorry, just saw this. Do you still need help? Please advise. I may be able to help.
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bradinbelize
3/29/2017 12:15 EST
Caye Caulker Tip:
don't ever even think about taking, buying, or using marijuana there. READ THE SIGNS (huge signs on the side of the building telling you what will happen) and TAKE IT SERIOUS. "when in Rome" - follow the other countries rules and stay out of trouble. Hope this is a good lesson for other North Americans. Glad it worked out for you and you're safe.
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