The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN woman is in police custody after she was caught attempting to smuggle $50,000 worth of cocaine into the country from Panama in several home appliances.

This seizure comes less than a month after Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers pledged to “keep a closer eye” on passengers coming into the capital from Panama.

The government has also said they were very concerned about the frequent use of the Panamanian airline by narcotics traffickers to bring illegal drugs into the country directly from South and Central America.

The latest drug bust happened around 12:30pm on Thursday at the Lynden Pindling International Airport. According to reports, officers from the DEU, acting on intelligence, conducted a search of several imported home appliances by the 31-year-old suspect and found 7lbs of suspected cocaine.

She was arrested and taken into custody shortly after getting off a commercial flight from Panama. Investigations are continuing.

Last month, Samuel Butler, Officer in Charge of the DEU, said his officers will be watching and scrutinising anyone coming off flights from Panama.

His comments came after two Jamaican women were caught, in two separate incidents, attempting to smuggle almost $50,000 worth of cocaine into Nassau.

Both women were also arrested shortly after disembarking a commercial plane from Panama.

Supt Butler said: “We will be doing extra checks from these flights. These flights from Panama are being watched. We have seen trends that our intelligence has materialised over time. We know all the drugs are not destined for here, but they are being passed through here. Flights coming from there are being profiled and individuals flying in from there are being profiled.”

Last year, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said the government is watching the Panamanian airline closely.

DEU officials also said they were very concerned about the frequent use of the airline by narcotics traffickers to bring illegal drugs into the country directly from South and Central America.

Mr Wilchcombe said he believes that in order to curb the problem, visitors from this area should be properly informed beforehand of the severe punishment they face if caught bringing drugs or weapons into the Bahamas.