ORANGE WALK TOWN, Tues. Dec. 3, 2019– Ewart Sutherland, 45, of Levy Street, Belize City, was busted with 30.2 pounds of compressed cannabis at a roadblock on Sunday in Carmelita, near the Toll Bridge. He was arrested and charged with drug trafficking.

He was taken to the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court today, Tuesday, where he appeared before Magistrate Patty Arana.

In court, Sutherland pleaded guilty, and his plea was accepted by the magistrate, who gave him a punishment that consisted of both a fine and confinement. He was fined $10,000 and given a 3-year prison sentence.

After he is released from jail, if he cannot pay the $10,000 fine, he will spend another 3 years in jail. His pickup in which the drug was found was ordered to be confiscated to the Government of Belize. He was then released to commence his jail time.

While conducting a vehicle checkpoint on Sunday afternoon in Carmelita, on the Philip Goldson Highway near the Orange Walk Toll Bridge, police stopped a pickup that was traveling to Belize City from Orange Walk Town, and searched it. Ewart Sutherland was driving the vehicle at the time.

Police found 15 compressed packages in a compartment under the vehicle. The packages were opened and the lawmen found that there was cannabis inside.

Sutherland was made aware of the offence and he and the cannabis were taken to the Orange Walk Police Station, where he was booked and the marijuana was deposited as an exhibit.