Tonight, taxi driver Walter Beaton and fisherman Kirk Dougal are in jail for drug trafficking after police found over 50 pounds of weed inside a van.

In January of this year, that police stopped a dodge Caravan at the western highway checkpoint in Belize City. 41 year old Beaton was driving and 38 year old Dougal was in the passenger seat. They had a large bag stowed behind the back seat with 25.1 kilos or 55.3 pounds of weed stuffed inside.

In the trial, both men said they didn't know the weed was there. Dougal claimed he was only hitching a ride.

But senior magistrate Sharon Fraser didn't buy it. She found them both guilty of drug trafficking with intent to supply to another for the purpose of drug trafficking.

Beaton has a prior conviction for harm while Dougal has been to court at least 14 times for drug related offenses.

So, Beaton was slapped with 3 years plus the mandatory minimum fine of $10,000 dollars, while Dougal got 4 years in prison plus the $10,000 dollar fine. They have to pay that fine by April 30th of next year, or in default serve an additional 3 years in prison.

In mitigation, both men begged the court for leniency. Beaton said he is a father of 8 children and he is there sole provider since the children's mother does not work. Dougal said he has 6 children and he is their only provider.