By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): A 27-year-old Belize City barber was fined $3,666 after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, following a police search at a Police Street home that yielded 882 grams of cannabis or almost 2 pounds.
Raheem Kareem Baptist, of #6632 Police Street, appeared unrepresented before a Senior Magistrate in Court #2 on Thursday, where he took ownership of the drugs. He was initially charged along with his older brother, Hubert Baptist, 37, and 27-year-old construction worker Antwone Alburn Rivero, of Lopez Street, Belize City.
Hubert Baptist, who is reportedly bedridden due to a previous attack on his life, did not appear in court because of his medical condition. Rivero pleaded not guilty.
The charge stemmed from a police search conducted around 4:50 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Hubert Baptist’s home on Police Street. Police say officers from the Anti-Gang Intelligence Investigation and Interdiction Unit visited the residence in search of illegal firearms, ammunition and drugs.
According to police, Hubert Baptist was found lying in bed and unable to move. Raheem Baptist and Rivero were also present at the house. During the search, officers reportedly found a transparent plastic bag containing three other plastic bags with suspected cannabis, as well as a white container with additional green leafy substances suspected to be cannabis.
The substance was later weighed at the Queen Street Police Station in the presence of Raheem Baptist and Rivero, where it amounted to 882 grams.
In court, Raheem Baptist asked what penalty he faced, explaining that it was his first time before the court. The Senior Magistrate told him that the offense could attract a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both. She also explained that by pleading guilty on his own, he would not be able to appeal the conviction.
Despite that, Baptist maintained his guilty plea and accepted responsibility for the drugs.
In sentencing, the Senior Magistrate noted that the quantity of cannabis placed the matter in Category 2. She considered the nature of the offense, the type and amount of drug, and the fact that the cannabis had been concealed. The court also considered that Baptist had no previous convictions for drug or similar offenses and had entered an early guilty plea.
The court used a starting point of $4,000, increased the amount by $500 due to aggravating factors, then deducted $500 for mitigating factors. Baptist was also given a one-third discount for his early guilty plea, leaving him with a final fine of $3,666.
He was ordered to pay the fine by October 15, 2026, in default of six months’ imprisonment.
Following Baptist’s guilty plea, the charge was withdrawn from Hubert Baptist and Antwone Rivero. Raheem Baptist does not need to return to court for the matter.
The post Raheem Baptist takes rap for almost 2 pounds of weed; Fined $3,666 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): A 27-year-old Belize City barber was fined $3,666 after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, following a police search at a Police Street home that yielded 882 grams of cannabis or almost 2 pounds. Raheem Kareem Baptist, of #6632 Police Street, appeared unrepresented
The post Raheem Baptist takes rap for almost 2 pounds of weed; Fined $3,666 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.