Stressed out Asian businessman busted with crystal meth, common-law-wife on immigration offense

Published by [email protected] at October 4, 2023

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Posted: Wednesday, October 4, 2023. 9:44 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: An Asian businessman from Ladyville, who claims he turned to drugs due to stress, is out on $6,000 bail after he was busted with 46.7 grams of crystal meth and during the raid, his common-law-wife was busted on an immigration offense.

Zhichao Tan, 31, and his common-law-wife Jenssy Francely, 24, a Honduran national, appeared in court today to answer to a charge of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply to another (drug trafficking). Tan intially wanted to plead guilty to the lesser charge of possession simplicita but due to the quantity of the drugs found, he could not and he eventually plead guilty to trafficking.

Tan, however, made it clear that the drugs he was found with was for his personal consumption. He offered an explanation, saying that life had gotten stressful for him, leading him to turn to drugs.

As a first time offender, Tan was issued a fine of $10,000 but due to his early guilty plea $4,000 was deducted and his fine was reduced to $6,000. The prosecutor had asked that the fine reflect the fact that crystal meth is a very dangerous drug that has recently become more common in Belize. He has until January 4, 2024 to pay or he will face 2 years in jail.

Tan’s partner, Francely, had the drug charge withdrawn against her but she was charged with entering Belize illegally on May 4.

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