Guatemalan Xatero Fined $21,000

His arrest almost caused the breakdown of Belize-Guatemala talks, and now a Guatemalan Xatero will have to come up with $21,0000 or face 3 years in jail.

Juvenito Salazar was arrested in April in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve with several bundles of Xate leaves and a 9-millimeter pistol and 12 live rounds of ammunition. Today in court, the 27-year-old Guatemalan national was convicted of possession of unlicensed firearm, possession of unlicensed ammunition, and unlawful possession of forestry products. A Magistrate fined him $1,000 for the Xate leaves, $10,000 for the gun and another $10,000 for the ammunition. All told he has to pay $21,000 or face three years in jail.