The Tribune

POLICE yesterday reported that during 2013, they took part in 11 successful OPBAT operations resulting in 680 pounds of cocaine and 13,009 pounds of marijuana being seized for the year.

For the three cases where cocaine was seized, 18 persons have been arrested and charged. The other eight cases, involving marijuana, resulted in 25 persons being arrested and charged before the courts.

According to the crime statistics issued by the Royal Bahamas Police Force yesterday, all of the cocaine seized in 2013 was found in Matthew Town Inagua, with the marijuana seizures occurring in Bimini, Andros, Exuma and Eleuthera.

In New Providence, there were a total of three major marijuana fields discovered.

These finds resulted in 20,551 plants being destroyed.

Two persons have been charged in connection with these finds.

The fields were found in Jubilee Gardens (421 plants), Rose Street (130 plants) and the North Side Well Field (20,000) plants.

In addition to drug seizures for the year, police also reported a total of 60 suspicious money laundering transaction reports.

Seventeen new proceeds of crime (cash seizure cases) were investigated with a total cash value of $1,860,437 being seized.

Eight proceeds of crime cases were placed before the courts concerning $710,485 and a total of $1,326,979 was forfeited to the crown by the courts.