Pastor and Six Fishermen Busted with Cocaine

A pastor and six fishermen were arrested in connection with a major drug bust in Orange Walk District on the night of March 18, 2025.

Pastor Mark Anthony Humes, 52, from Burrell Boom Village, and the fishermen—Lerman Norman Leslie, Freddy Estuardo Chavez, Angel Aragon, Marvin Teul, Ronyer Alexander Cruz, and Christian Merilyn White, all from Corozal District—were charged with possession of 1,137 grams of suspected cocaine intended for trafficking.

The group was intercepted by the Mobile Interdiction Team (MIT) and Highway Interdiction Team (HIT) in a gold Dodge Caravan while transporting the fishermen from Belize City to Orange Walk.

They pleaded not guilty in court and were remanded to Belize Central Prison without bail, pending further proceedings on May 22, 2025. Angel Aragon expressed interest in pleading guilty, but the Senior Magistrate advised against it, citing the potential for a prison sentence.