BELIZE CITY, Fri. Apr. 13, 2018– Two men and two women who were remanded into custody after they allegedly smuggled 20,470 grams of cannabis from Mexico into Belize were released on Supreme Court bail of $25,000 each that was offered to them today by Justice Marilyn Williams.
They are Kenyon Lewis, Phylmore King, Blancaneaux Maudel and her sister, Michelle Benguche. They were arraigned last week in the Corozal Magistrate’s Court on charges of drug trafficking, importation of a controlled drug and possession of 28 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition without a gun license.
The four were represented in the Supreme Court by attorney Arthur Saldivar. It was only in this court (the Supreme Court) that bail could be secured for the four, after they had been remanded subsequent to being charged in the Magistrate’s Court in Corozal.
According to the allegation against the accused persons, Lewis was driving a Kia car with King in the passenger seat and Maudel was driving a Ford Escape with Benguche in the passenger seat when their vehicles were intercepted in the Custom Department area at Belize’s northern border.
Police reported that when they searched the spare tire of the Ford Escape, they found the ammunition, along with 24 parcels of cannabis.
Police also reported that when they searched the spare tire of the Kia, they found 12 parcels of cannabis. Both vehicles had just crossed the border from Chetumal into Corozal.
The Crown, represented by Senior Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith, did not object to bail.