Another prison officer busted for trafficking of marijuana

Smuggling weed into prison; there have been countless visiting women caught in the act and charged, but now prison officers are doing the same. Twenty-six year old Abraham Ponce was allegedly busted as he reported to work on Thursday night with over three ounces of marijuana hidden in the sole of his boots. He was escorted to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court this morning and was charged with Drug Trafficking. Ponce appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart and the prosecutor objected to bail because of his position and noted the severity of the charge, which carries a penalty of up to three years behind bars. Magistrate Stuart asked Ponce to give a good reason why he should be granted bail. He then admitted that the drugs were found in his possession, but said it was not for his use. He also told the court that this is his first offense for drug trafficking and that the police prosecutor arrested him in Belmopan back in 2001 and has been harassing since then. Magistrate Stuart granted him bail of six thousand dollars and he is to return to court on July ninth.