By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
FOUR men are in police custody after being detained following the seizure of 62 bales of what is suspected to be marijuana in the area of South Andros on Saturday.
The men, ages 46, 38, 30 and 17, were arrested in waters near Grassy Creek and taken to Nassau where it is expected they will face charges in connection with the matter. Two of the men are from New Providence. The others are from Andros.
According to police, at about 7am on Saturday, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers assisted by the Police Marine Unit found a 30-foot go fast vessel and searched it, resulting in the discovery of more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana.
Acting on information, the team was able to take into custody four suspects on a smaller vessel for questioning, police said. Officer-in-charge of the DEU, Superintendent Samuel Butler referred to Saturday’s seizure as “another substantial step” in the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s war on drugs.
“We understand the scourge of drug abuse in our country and can see the impact that it is having on our society,” Supt Butler said.
“This seizure came as a result of good police work; officers working on the intelligence we have built and responding swiftly to it.
“Certainly, understanding our mandate, we are being proactive with techniques and working to keep our community safe. Our primary goal is, and has been for quite sometime, preventing drugs from entering our communities.”
“We have noticed the connection between drugs, gangs and gang violence. We believe if we can effectively prevent the entrance of drugs, we can take the steps forward in our fight against the scourge of crime,” he added.
In mid-July police arrested six men, five Bahamians and one Jamaican, after the group was allegedly found in possession of 5,050lbs of marijuana in waters off South Andros.
The drugs had an estimated wholesale value of around $4.6m.
Police seized 20,602lbs of marijuana last year – 2,998 more than the 17,604lbs seized in 2013; continuing the upward trend in marijuana seizures seen in recent years, according to police statistics.
Comments
asiseeit 9 years ago
When will our government wake up to the fact that the war on drugs can never succeed? Canada is going to legalize the weed and many states in the U.S. have legalized it as well. Colorado is raking in so much tax on the stuff that it is thinking of giving some back to it's residents. If this country had progressive leadership they would decriminalize marijuana and tax it to the hilt. The non-violent drug offenders up in Fox Hill should be released as well which would save the country many millions and free up space for the real criminals and stop ruining the lives of young Bahamains who did nothing but smoke a joint. It is time for real leaders to step up and get with the times and the useless christian council to sit small. Legalize, regularize and tax it, the public treasury could use the cash as these idiots in charge today only know how to spend, not save!
TruePeople 9 years ago
There are the laws of God and those of Man. God give we every seed bearing plant to be used, man give us money to keep us running circle. Now gov't them thinkthey can make $$$ off herb so all of a sudden they laws could change....
Aye, Bun di pagan laws king, it's a system set up to keep many down and elevate the few corrupt
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