New details are being released about a $26 million drug bust in South Florida last month that netted over 300 kilos of cocaine and involved the arrest of Grand Bahama businessmen Paul and David Mellor.
The sworn affidavit of Drug Enforcement Agent Christopher Mathes gives explicit details of a surveillance operation that had the Mellors and several other suspects under close watch.
Mathes worked as a DEA agent in The Bahamas for some time becoming familiar with narcotics traffickers’ methods of operation.
According to the DEA agent, early on November 13, 2001 , Paul Mellor arrived at a waterfront property at Lighthouse Point in Broward county. He was joined shortly afterwards by Marlon Hepburn.
Several hours later, according to the agent, who had the home under surveillance, Mellor left the residence on board a small vessel, a course that took him under the Hillsboro Inlet.
“Law enforcement authorities observed him make a wide circle in the ocean and then he circled back through the Inlet where he engaged in counter surveillance aboard the small vessel,” Mathes’ sworn affidavit said.
Mellor had apparently spotted authorities who had him under close watch. The scene unfolded around three o’ clock in the afternoon.
The agent said around the same time, Paul Mellor’s brother David and another man Desmond Mackey appeared on a 42 foot fishing vessel named the Sea ‘N Double.
According to Mathes’ affidavit, they had left Freeport , Grand Bahama earlier that morning. The agent said Paul Mellor’s vessel fell in line with the boat that his brother was on.
Chased by officers, the Sea ‘N Double eventually docked at the Lighthouse Point property, where U.S. Customs officers eventually boarded the vessel.
But, according to surveillance, Paul Mellor’s vessel sped past the area taking marine units, that were in hot pursuit, up a canal.
Eventually, he beached the vessel and then took off on foot, escaping.
“His abandoned car and boat trailer were found in the 14th street boat ramp,” the agent stated.
He was arrested at a later time.
The Mellor’s were indicted in the United States on at least two other separate incidents of alleged drug importation that occurred on November 13 in Palm Beach County and on October 30 in Broward county.
Involved in those occasions were five kilos of cocaine.
The indictment says that if convicted, the Mellors will forfeit $39,493 in U.S. currency, one 42 foot vessel with Grand Bahama registration plates and the Lighthouse Point property.
They were arrested as part of a ring that trafficked drugs from Colombia into South Florida through The Bahamas, a clandestine operation was allegedly headed by Eleuthera resident Austin Knowles Jr..
The Mellors are involved in several business interests in Grand Bahama including owning and operating condominiums and apartment complexes.
The Bahama Journal
