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A Belizean American who failed to declare over US$50,000 in cash and checks had to pay a heavy fine today. When he arrived on Monday at the Phillip Goldson International Airport fifty two year old Belizean American Michael McKoy filled out his declaration form but stated that he had nothing to declare. However when he was checked by Customs officials at the PGIA he was found with a total of US$11,118.00 in cash and a check for US$40,000. The rule is that anything over US$10,000 has to be declared. He was held at the International Airport and handed over to police.

On Monday McKoy appeared before the Belize City Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty to the charge of “failure to declare when entering Belize with more than the prescribed amount” without having first reported the matter to officials at PGIA. McKoy was remanded overnight, and re-appeared today when he maintained the guilty plea before Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie. The Chief Magistrate fined him twenty thousand dollars and he was ordered to pay forthwith.

To avoid a three year prison sentence Michael McKoy paid his fine. He was represented by attorney Ellis Arnold.