By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
DRUG Enforcement Unit officers seized $2 million worth of marijuana early yesterday morning on a speedboat in waters off New Providence. With this seizure, police have captured more than $10 million worth of marijuana and $13 million in cocaine so far this year.
According to reports, DEU officers with the Police Marine Support Unit and United States Drug Enforcement agents, acting on intelligence, intercepted a 30-foot Midnight Express boat 30 miles south west of the capital around 2am.
A search of the vessel revealed a large quantity of marijuana with an estimated street value of $2 million. Three Bahamian men on board, ages 42, 39 and 38, were taken into custody and are expected to be charged early next week.
Officer in Charge of the DEU, Superintendent Samuel Butler, told The Tribune: “This year there has been an increase (in seizures) compared to the last four years. We are now seeing an increase in the trafficking movement which has led to an increase of seizures. I can’t say it has increased but from our point of view it seems that more Bahamians are making an effort to go into these producing countries, like Jamaica, and actually retrieve drugs themselves and bring it back.
“Prior to this, other nationalities would come into the country and bring the drugs themselves, but now Bahamians have learned the sea better and are doing it themselves. While Bahamians are still collaborating with these other nationalities, they are being more aggressive.”
Supt Butler said based on the these new trends, the DEU has increased sea patrols in strategic areas which has led to more success in interdictions.
Comments
SP 10 years, 4 months ago
How is it that 2 days ago a boat loaded with illegal Haitians was able to sail into Seabreeze Canal in broad daylight and Illegals were walking around all over the place and no police or immigration officers could be found anywhere to capture them.......But the Police Marine Support unit can intercept a 30-foot Midnight Express boat caring marijuana with 3 people on it 30 miles south west of the capital around 2am. in the dead of night???
Our government is so corrupt it ain't funny no more.
pat242 10 years, 4 months ago
SP I can answer that. The police operate on information. The real question is why the people who saw this boat load of immigrants didn't notify the proper authority's. Besides The Bahamas is a huge country mostly water. And it's difficult to find those persons. It's up to Bahamians who see these people coming to inform the police or Defense Force so these people can be captured, and if they somehow land do not hire them. Show these people the only way Haiti can become a stable country is the people needs to organize them selves and make the change. Not us.
SP 10 years, 4 months ago
@ pat242....The fact is not only did people try calling the police and immigration, a few of them also called in live to the Steve McKinney show and reported that a boatload of illegal Haitians were walking around all the place and they were unable to get an answer from immigration by phone.
Mr. McKinney then tried calling immigration live on radio "SEVERAL TIMES" and he too could not get an answer from immigration by phone.
The only way we are going to deal with this Haitian parasite infestation is get involved with it ourselves, make citizens arrest and hold illegals until immigration or police "get the O.K." from this lousy Christie government to come collect them.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
But they (police/defence) crying say they need more money .................. BOL. And the politicians want more money too ............ citizen's arrest is too dangerous nowadays ........................... but those responsible are plain lousy
pat242 10 years, 4 months ago
Citizens can detain persons until proper authorities come. The problems is some Bahamians love to make noise but hate to take action. Thats Y the Foreigner and politicians take advantage of Bahamians. And in Ingraham administration was just as lousy. It's not good to be bias.
SP 10 years, 4 months ago
Bias my ass....Both PLP and FNM are beyond lousy and have no love for our country.
PLP & FNM cowards failed in building the country and are now looking for "new people" to keep them in power.
Let me be first to tell them...It ain't gonna happen!
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