By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldier whose arrest in Mahogany Heights drew public attention after neighbours recorded the incident on their cellphones has been left to answer to only one criminal charge following his arraignment in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court.
The accused is 27-year-old Shaeed Noralez, a BDF soldier, who appeared unrepresented before a Magistrate in Court #6. Noralez was initially read four charges: possession of a controlled drug, resisting lawful arrest, using insulting words, and aggravated assault.
However, by the end of the arraignment, three of the four charges were dismissed. The charge of possession of a controlled drug, relating to 10.1 grams of marijuana, was struck out under Section 59 of the Crimes Control and Criminal Justice Act, Chapter 99 of the Laws of Belize. The charge of using insulting words was also dismissed, with the court ruling that the section was not supported by the facts, while the charge of resisting arrest was likewise struck out.
The only charge left standing against Noralez is aggravated assault. That matter was adjourned to February 18, 2026. He was offered bail in the sum of $1,000 plus one surety of the same amount, which he met.
The charges arose from an incident on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, when police executed a search warrant for illegal drugs and firearms at Noralez’s residence at #49 Mahogany Heights Village. According to police, officers from the Mahogany Heights Sub-Police Station were on mobile patrol around 8:30 p.m. when they carried out the search.
Police say Noralez declared that he had marijuana in his possession and handed over a small transparent bag containing a green leafy substance suspected to be cannabis. The substance was later weighed on a scale and amounted to 10.1 grams. No other illegal items were reportedly found, apart from dried leaves used for smoking cannabis and a large gram scale.
According to police, when Noralez was informed of the offence and was to be taken into custody, he became disorderly and resisted arrest, prompting officers to use what they described as justifiable force. The incident attracted the attention of several neighbours, many of whom recorded the arrest on their phones.
Police further alleged that while being placed into the police vehicle, Noralez used insulting language toward an officer and later kicked the officer on the upper thigh while inside the mobile. The aggravated assault charge stems from that allegation.
Noralez’s case will return to court on February 18, 2026, when he is expected to answer to the remaining charge.
The post Court dismisses 3 of 4 charges against BDF soldier arrested for 10 grams of weed appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldier whose arrest in Mahogany Heights drew public attention after neighbours recorded the incident on their cellphones has been left to answer to only one criminal charge following his arraignment in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court. The accused is 27-year-old Shaeed Noralez, a BDF soldier,
The post Court dismisses 3 of 4 charges against BDF soldier arrested for 10 grams of weed appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
