The Nassau Guardian
Police notice drug smuggling ‘trend’ from Canada
Police have noticed a “unique” trend of drug smuggling from Canada to The Bahamas with a higher quality of marijuana, Superintendent Samuel Butler said yesterday.
“It’s a growing trend,” said Butler, officer-in-charge of the Drug Enforcement Unit.
“Late last year we had some sighting of it, and noticed one or two instances.
“It is relatively new to have it in the reverse where people are smuggling drugs from up there and coming into The Bahamas.”
The Bahamas has traditionally been labeled a transit point for drug smugglers.
Butler said he did not have figures readily available on how many cases police have seen from Canada.
On Monday, police arrested two Bahamian pilots and a Canadian man in connection with a million-dollar drug bust at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA).
According to police, officers confiscated 149 pounds of marijuana, 17.4 pounds of ecstasy pills and 2.6 pounds of hashish oil. The drugs are worth $1,050,000, police said.
“What was unique about this particular seizure also is the type of marijuana, what we call hydroponic marijuana, a real high quality marijuana and it’s actually marketed at a very high price,” Butler said.
“Certainly, marijuana is the contraband of choice. There is a demand for it despite our public education initiatives. We still see throughout the length and breadth of The Bahamas we’re having high demand.
“We also have to pay attention to our visitors who continue to have a demand for these once they arrive to The Bahamas.”
There have been several large drug busts across the country this year.
According to the U.S. Department of State’s 2014 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, The Bahamas remains a transit point for illegal drugs bound for the U.S. and other countries.
It noted that marijuana use among young people remains an area of concern.
The report stated that Haitian and Haitian-Bahamian drug trafficking organizations continue to play a major role in the movement of cocaine into the country.
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