Two Bahamians are expected to be charged soon for allegedly smuggling more than $1 million worth of cocaine into The Bahamas.
Police Inspector Walter Evans told The Bahama Journal on Tuesday that over the weekend officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit, acting on information, were able to arrest two Bahamian men who were in the area of Cat Cay, near Bimini.
Mr. Evans said the men were found in a vessel also valued at more than $1 million and had in their possession 62 kilos of cocaine.
In addition to the drugs, he said police confiscated the vessel and transported the men to New Providence.
Police estimate the street value of the drugs to be $1.2 million, and said their investigations into the matter were continuing.
Inspector Evans reassured that the DEU is committed to continue the fight against illegal narcotics.
“We will not rest until all the drugs are removed from our streets,” he said. “It is the intention of the officer in charge of that unit to do whatever is necessary to rid the country of drugs. We recognize the affect that drugs can [have] in a community and so every effort is being made at this time to rid the streets of all illicit drugs.”
The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report released by the US Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs last week, said that during 2005, the DEU seized 1.01 metric tons of cocaine and 13 metric tons of marijuana.
Last year, the DEU arrested 1,382 persons on drug-related offenses and seized drug-related assets, including five boats and five vehicles.
The report said cocaine seizures decreased compared to 2004 levels as a result of the continued vigilance and precise targeting actions by law enforcement agencies and the 2005 hurricane season.
In another crime-related matter, police said on Tuesday they had made some inroads into solving last week’s murder of well-known businessman, Keith Carey.
Inspector Evans said a suspect had been taken into police custody in connection with the brutal slaying.
The 24-year-old is a resident of Nassau Village, according to police who said the man and two others – 25-year-old Dwight Dellington Knowles and 37-year-old Sean Brown -both of Rocky Pine Road, are wanted for questioning in connection with the homicide.
Police reports reveal that 42-year-old Carey, who was a former coach of St. John’s College, was fatally shot at Bank of The Bahamas International on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway while attempting to make a deposit shortly after 11am last week Monday. He died shortly after in hospital.
Police again urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of any or both of the suspects to call 328-TIPS, the nearest police station or 919.
By: Bianca Symonette, The Bahama Journal
