7 News Belize

Last week, 8 underage tourists were arrested for smoking marijuana in Punta Gorda Town, but it is the police officer who is being investigated - for extortion. 42 year old Aminata Maraesa, an American College Professor from New York City, checked into Nature's Way Guesthouse in Punta Gorda Town with her 16 year old daughter and 7 other students. Then on Wednesday night she left the guest house briefly, only to find that her 8 charges were missing. When Aminata contacted the owner, she was told that the students were seen in a police vehicle. After she checked at the police station, the students were released into her custody, and that's when one of them told her that, prior to her arrival, a police officer had demanded 1000 dollars for their release. The students came up with 400 US dollars between them, and paid the officer who told one of them to leave the country by Monday or face being rearrested. Police have since detained the officer pending investigation.