Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2025. 5:09 pm CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Three American women on vacation in Belize had a brush with the law on Wednesday after they were caught with marijuana upon arrival at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) after arriving on a JetBlue flight.
The visitors — Iyahna Nakeita Rayside, 24, of Bronx, New York; Arisa Rashae Philson, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Alliah Latanya Kemp, 29, of Bronx, New York — were each found with cannabis in their luggage after arriving on JetBlue Flight #1641 from New York on Wednesday, August 20. Police reported that Philson had 17.35 grams, Kemp had 3 grams, and Rayside had 12.41 grams.
All three were detained overnight at the Ladyville Police Station and brought before Magistrate Ludlow Black in Court #1 on Thursday morning, where they were charged with importation of a controlled drug. They each pleaded guilty.
Magistrate Black explained that although Belizean law permits possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana for personal use, importing cannabis into the country remains illegal. He urged the women to learn the laws of countries they travel to in the future.
Taking into account their early guilty pleas, lack of prior convictions, and the relatively small amounts found, the magistrate imposed non-custodial sentences. Each was fined $300 plus $5 court costs, payable forthwith, or face three months’ imprisonment in default.
The women quickly paid their fines and were released. Relieved, they reunited with a fourth companion who had been separated from them during detention. A vehicle from their tour operator was waiting outside the courthouse to continue their Belize vacation.
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The post Nothing beats a JetBlue holiday: 3 American women charged for bringing weed to Belize; no savings just $300 fine appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2025. 5:09 pm CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: Three American women on vacation in Belize had a brush with the law
The post Nothing beats a JetBlue holiday: 3 American women charged for bringing weed to Belize; no savings just $300 fine appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
