The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

A Jet Blue passenger was detained by police yesterday in connection with an attempt to smuggle $48,000 worth of cocaine into the United States, a police source confirmed.

The 29-year-old man was already on board the flight when authorities removed him for questioning after the drugs were found in a piece of checked luggage, The Tribune understands.

The drugs weighed more than seven pounds and are thought to be worth about $50,000.

This was the third attempt to smuggle drugs through the airport foiled within the last two weeks.

Last week, a 22-year-old woman was also detained for questioning at LPIA in connection with an attempt to smuggle almost $1,000 worth of marijuana.

Sources on the scene the time of the incident said a woman was brought to the airport by a relative.

A short time later she was picked up by her boyfriend, then returned claiming to be pregnant.

At the airport’s security checkpoint, the officer on duty conducted a search and discovered the drugs.

On Friday, July 6 a Nassau Airport Development Company employee was taken into police custody in connection with an attempt to smuggle 15 kilos of cocaine out of the country on an international flight.

The 25-year-old man was arrested at the Lynden Pindling International Airport around 4.15pm.

Acting on information provided by US Customs and Border Protection officials, officers from the Airport Police Station conducted a search of specific items of checked luggage and found 15 packages containing a substance suspected to be cocaine, with a combined weight of 40 pounds. 

Sources close to the investigation say the man was aboard a Bahamasair flight on his way to Ft Lauderdale, Florida, when he was detained.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $240,000.

Airport officials declined comment on the latest drug find and arrest. Police say they are actively investigating the matter.