U.S. Coast Guard, Others Seize over 5,000 Pounds of Marijuana Near Bahamas
Seized pot has estimated wholesale value of $4.6 million, suspects in custody
Seized pot has estimated wholesale value of $4.6 million, suspects in custody
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Authorities seized over 5,000 pounds of Cannabis on a go-fast vessel [Credit: USCGNews.com] |
On Wednesday, July 15, the United States Coast Guard helicopter crew assisted in the recovery of 5,050 pounds of Cannabis in waters near the Bahamas.
Acting under the auspices of Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), the Coast Guard assisted an operation conducted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and DEA.
According to the Coast Guard, a United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maritime patrol aircraft was on a routine run in the early hours before dawn when a suspect, thirty-five-foot speedboat was spotted traveling at a high rate of speed with no navigation lights.
In addition to the DEA and RBPF, a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, FL, MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew dispatched and apprehended the smuggling vessel a few minutes before 1:00 a.m.
The seized boat and marijuana, in addition to the smuggling suspects, were transported to Nassau, Bahamas to be processed.
OPBAT deals not only with drug smuggling but also assists in the prosecution of human smuggling rings and also aids in local rescue efforts. The organization is a conglomerate of CBP, Coast Guard, Government of Bahamas and DEA agents.
Commander Mark Driver, OPBAT director for Coast Guard aviation operations, declared, "This is another great achievement by OPBAT and highlights how our joint efforts reduce the negative impacts illicit trafficking has on the United States and the Bahamas."
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