The Tribune

AN American man found with more than $40,000 worth of cocaine in his luggage was one of several people arrested for drug offences over the weekend.

Shortly before 6pm on Saturday, the American presented himself to a US Customs Border Patrol officer for pre-clearance at Lynden Pindling International Airport with a grey carry-on bag. The man was screened and cleared to go upstairs, police said.

However, officers were suspicious of him and took him back to the screening area, where a secondary search of his bag was conducted and three packages of suspected cocaine were discovered. The drugs weighed 6.4 pounds and have a street value of $43,000.

Police also seized a firearm and drugs yesterday morning from the streets of New Providence.

Shortly before 10am on Sunday, officers were on mobile patrol in the area Sea Breeze Lane, when they observed a man in a white Honda Accord acting suspiciously. The officers intercepted the vehicle, conducted a search and recovered a white plastic bag with a quantity of suspected marijuana and a black Jimenez 9mm pistol with two rounds of ammunition. The man was taken into custody and is expected to be formally charged.

Another drug arrest occurred shortly before 7.30pm on Saturday after Mobile Division officers, acting on information went to Cyprus Court in Elizabeth Estates. Police observed two suspicious males, standing near a white Toyota Camry.

The officers conducted a search of the men and around the car, where they recovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. The men were taken into custody and are expected to be formally charged in the Magistrate’s Court this week.

Around the same time in Exuma, Drug Enforcement Unit officers assisted by Marine Support officers, went to the settlement of Bahama Sound. Officers searched an unpaved road and discovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. No one was arrested.

The drugs weighed 40 pounds and have a street value of about $40,000.

Four people were arrested on Friday as well.

Shortly after on 11am, Mobile Division officers assisted by K-9 officers while on mobile patrol in the area of John Road, observed a man and a woman believed to be selling drugs. Officers conducted a search of the area and recovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. They were both arrested.

In the second incident, shortly before 3pm, Mobile Division officers while on mobile patrol in the area of Apache Alley off Kemp Road, observed three males standing near a vehicle at the rear of a building. Upon seeing the police, the men fled on foot through a track road. The officers pursued the men, who escaped. Officers returned to the area, where they conducted a search and recovered a quantity of suspected marijuana.

In the third incident, reports are that shortly before 9.30pm, Mobile Division officers assisted by K-9 officers acting on information went to Mount Tabor Estates, where they observed two males in dark clothing believed to be selling dangerous drugs from an abandoned building. Officers conducted a search of the building, where they recovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. The men were arrested.