The Bahamas has been once again added to the list of countries known for major drug smuggling, according to recently released statistics from the United States Embassy.
Authorities have seized a significant amount of cocaine and marijuana over the years.
In a press release issued by the United States Embassy yesterday the country’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), along with Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), seized a total of 176 kilograms of cocaine and 24 metric tons of marijuana by in 2011.
It is because of numbers like these that The Bahamas has once again been added to United States President Barack Obama’s Presidential Determination on Major Illicit Drug Transit and Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for 2012.
The annual release of the U.S. presidential majors list identifies countries determined to be a major drug transit country or a major illicit drug producing country and must designate each majors list country that has “failed during the past year to make substantial efforts” to adhere to its obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and to take certain other counternarcotics measures.
The Bahamas has once been added to that list.
However, according to the release, a country’s presence on the major’s list is not necessarily an adverse reflection of its government’s counternarcotics efforts or level of cooperation with the United States.
“The United States enjoys close collaboration with The Bahamas on counternarcotics and citizen security,” the release said. “The Bahamas’ inclusion on this list reflects the ongoing challenge it faces in combating transnational organised crime and highlights the need for continued bilateral support to counter this regional threat.”
“The United States and the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has been a stalwart ally against illegal narcotics trafficking and is an important partner in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).”
The report added that additionally, the United States has a Comprehensive Maritime Agreement (CMA) with The Bahamas, which provides for cooperation in counternarcotics operations in and around Bahamian territorial waters, including the use of ship riders and expedited boarding authorisations and procedures.
“This agreement was utilised often in 2011, showcasing the Bahamian government’s strong commitment to U.S. and joint counternarcotics efforts,” the report added.
