Prison guard convicted for drug trafficking in prison

Ajani Smith Sr.

A prison officer was today convicted of drug trafficking inside his work place which is the Belize Central Prison.  Ajani Smith Senior was caught with fifty-four grams of marijuana strapped to his body on August twenty-fifth, 2013. Smith initially pleaded not guilty to possession of a control drugs with intent to supply but today, he changed his plea to guilty when he saw the witnesses, including a prison officer.  Magistrate Dale Cayetano imposed the minimum mandatory sentence and fined him ten thousand dollars to be paid by October thirty-first.  This is after Smith Senior sought the leniency of the court saying he is the sole provider for his family and that another baby is on the way. Smith was arrested when he requested and went to see a doctor at the prison compound. He was searched by prison officer, Silvino Cal, who found a black plastic bag strapped to his right leg inside his pants which contained marijuana.