Morning patrol search turns up 76 grams of suspected cannabis

By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): A 57-year-old man is facing a charge of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, after police say a search of his bag during a morning patrol in Orange Walk Town produced more than 76 grams of suspected cannabis, in a case where officers brought in a sign language interpreter to ensure the man, who cannot speak, understood every step of the process.

According to the Belize Police Department, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at about 8:30 a.m., officers on mobile patrol along Staines Alley observed a man with an orange nap sack bag on his back behaving in a manner they found suspicious. An officer stopped him and informed him that a search would be conducted for illegal drugs or firearms.

While speaking with the man, the officer noticed he could not speak. A search of his person found nothing incriminating, but a further search of the orange bag produced a green transparent plastic bag containing a green leafy substance suspected to be cannabis. He was shown the find, informed of the offence, cautioned, and escorted to the Orange Walk Police Station.

At the station, police secured the services of a sign language interpreter, through whom the man was identified as Sergio Betancourt, a 57-year-old Guatemalan labourer of Douglas Village, Orange Walk District. The suspected cannabis was weighed in the presence of both Betancourt and the interpreter, amounting to 76.1 grams, then sealed and labelled as evidence. He was informed of his constitutional rights through a suspect’s rights form in the language he understands, and signed and received his copy.

On Sunday, July 26, police formally arrested and charged Betancourt with possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply to another. Cautioned once more, he chose to remain silent.

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