$2 MILLION DRUG BUST

As of Friday, September 27, 2013

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

AUTHORITIES are praising yet another “major” drug bust with the early morning discovery of more than $2 million worth of marijuana in Exuma.

Although stressing that it is still too early to tell, Drug Enforcement Unit commander, Supt Samuel Butler said “there could be possibilities” the drug find is part of a much larger operation.

The drugs were flown into Odyssey airport in New Providence on a United States Coast Guard helicopter after being found in Farmer’s Cay by local police who were “acting on intelligence”. The drugs have an estimated weight of 2,300lbs and an estimated street value of $2.3 million.

“We want to let the public know that we are serious about carrying out the mandate of the Commissioner of Police so that we can prevent drug trafficking, drug peddling on our streets,” Supt Butler said.

“When we actually look at a major seizure of this, we always think in terms of the prevention of these types of drugs reaching our streets, reaching the local populace of the Bahamas and destroying some young boy, some young girl – so that really makes us happy to know that our work is not in vain.”

The DEU will continue the effort to fight drug trafficking, Supt Butler said, thanking the “committed” officers for their work and also the public.

“We also like to say thanks for the general public who always continually provide pertinent information to us,” he said. “We would not be able to do this alone, but because of our partnership with the wider community, law enforcement agencies, we continue to be successful.”

Supt Butler noted this drug seizure comes on the heels of several drug busts, most recently – the discovery of a huge marijuana field found at the rear of Dignity Gardens in New Providence, thought to contain $500,000 worth of drugs.

When asked if he thought there could be any connection between this find and any of the previous incidents, he said: “It’s early in our investigation – there could be possibilities – but it’s too early for us to speak to it.”

And confirming police have four Bahamian men in custody in connection with the incident, Supt Butler said police will have to wait for necessary interviews before it can be determined if the men are in any way part of a larger organisation.

“But we know from intelligence,” Supt Butler said, “there is a network of Bahamians who are working together, sharing their resources, so we still wait to unveil what they were doing at this particular location.”

He again noted that it is “too early to say” if the find is related to any other drug matters.

The men in question were flown into New Providence yesterday afternoon. Police are “optimistic” the men could be charged before the courts as early as next week, Supt Butler said, but added the men are still suspects at this time and will be given a “fair opportunity” to be interviewed by authorities.

rory 11 years, 1 month ago

What a load of bollocks - if they were really concerned about the use of weed they would ban the sale of backwood especially at gas stations and pharmacies, not to mention liquor stores and everywhere else it is sold. Or here is a thought, track everyone that buys backwood and follow them to their dealers - problem solved.

WinstonSmith 11 years, 1 month ago

Ban the sale of a completely legal item because some people use it illegally? You'd have to ban cigarettes, pipes, and papers too. Why not ban lighters and matches while you're at it? You do realize there are plenty of ways to smoke/vaporize/ingest Marijuana/THC right? Even a child can figure out how to use a soda can or even a hollowed out apple to smoke out of. If they really wanted to solve the problem they would legalize the plant and end all the shady business, smuggling and crime associated with the import and distribution of a substance that factually causes waaaaayyyyyy less harm than the drug of choice in the Bahamas--- that would be Alcohol.

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how Marijuana has the potential for "destroying some young boy, some young girl" when nearly every other aspect of life in the Bahamas is much more efficient at holding people back and bringing them down.

In 5 years when Marijuana is legalized throughout the US and the failed war on drugs is finally ended, the Bahamas will be the last country in the area to take advantage of the mighty cannabis tourism/tax potential.

concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago

GREAT POST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago

Your out of your mind ,Helmet boy ..

vigilant_citizen 11 years, 1 month ago

Ignorance and fear of change leads to anger. The truth of the situation is that you rory simply do not know. Backwood is one of many ways someone uses weed. Some stuff cigarettes, others unroll cigars, some use papers, pipes, vaporizer, tea or cakes. If The Bahamas continue to clench onto outdated laws, which we never understood to begin with, while the counties where we adapted it from realize their mistake and legalize it we will be left behind. Let me ask you why is marijuana illegal? This plant which has been proven over and over through proper research that it is less physically addictive than cough syrup which you buy in the grocery, and people overdose on yearly. This plant which has a mortality rate of zero that you cannot ingest a Lethal dose of. This plant which reduces your risk factors for medical illness. The truth is it makes no sense. If legalized the Bahamas could farm hemp for its fibers and oil and create a booming export business, or even boost tourism. The fact is the illegality of marijuana has only served to burden the Bahamian community by fostering the gangster lifestyle and place financial strain on the people by keeping persons incarcerated, tying up the judicial system and police force. Keeping its illegality simply makes no sense. And before you get angry and call me a criminal... just know that I don't smoke. I just realize that not all laws make sense and this is one of them and not all laws should be upheld. There is a woman who was raped in the middle East and was sentenced to 200 lashes across her back and jail time because it is the law... So do not just be the sheep, stop and ask why and educate yourself before you condemn and curse your fellow man.

ThisIsOurs 11 years, 1 month ago

Wow I'm actually going to agree with Rory on this one. Not so much the name calling but the essence. If you owned a business how many of your employees would you wish to have smoking marijuana before coming to work? It's a mind numbing drug and the one thing the Bahamas does not need is more mind numbed young men. We need people with strong minds who can come up with better ways to handle stress than to blow their minds away. It's also a gateway drug, young people start with it then get tripped up into a bigger rush.

WinstonSmith 10 years, 9 months ago

| I dont talk to criminals.

Too late. Better luck next year.

$2 MILLION DRUG BUST

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