Despite the renewed focused attention on serious crimes like murder in the country, the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) has had a lot of success with drug seizures in the country for the first nine months of 2013.

DEU Head Superintendent Samuel Butler told the Bahama Journal in an exclusive interview that he attributes the unit’s success to police intelligence as well as tips from the public.

Up to the first quarter this year, the unit took in just over 770 pounds of cocaine, according to drug statistics.

Mr. Butler told the Journal that that number is now up to over 1,500 pounds of cocaine.

According to statistics, just over 4,000 pounds of marijuana was seized up to April this year.

That number now stands at over 6,000 pounds, according to Mr. Butler.

“We also have to a lesser extent some people practicing the cultivation of marijuana plants in Family Islands and we were able to seize over 600 plants,” Superintendent Butler said.

“This will always be a concern. We know many of the Family Islands have a lot of remote areas and therefore it’s quite easy for people and residents to grow these plants. We have intelligence and we just try to do our best to locate the remote areas. We will continue to work hard to police the Family Islands and try to combat drug trafficking.”

He said the islands of concern are Grand Bahama, Andros, Eleuthera and Abaco.

“In terms of arrests and taking people to court, so far we have in excess of 500 people who have gone before the courts and charged for various offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act and we have questioned and/or arrested over 600 in connection with various offences,” Superintendent Butler said.

“We are also concerned about the movement of drugs through the airport specifically Lynden Pindling International Airport. The unit however will spare no effort in going after any perpetrator whether you are a tourist or a local.”

Police have also taken a number of ecstasy tablets as well as liquid cocaine off the streets.

Four men – three of whom are from Andros – were charged in a magistrates’ court just last week in connection with a drug bust in Andros.

Zintworn Duncombe, 28, of Fresh Creek, Andros; Kenwood Smith, 37, of Bearing Point; Dario Cash, 21, of Fox Hill and Branaldo Young, 28, of Mars Bay, Andros stood before Magistrate James Moxey in Court #8 to face six counts each in drug related charges.

The first count was possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

The suspects are accused of conspiring between August 12 and August 28 to possess a quantity of dangerous drugs.
Police busted the men with 1,201 pounds of marijuana.

The suspects also faced conspiracy to import dangerous drugs, possession of drugs with intent to supply and importation of dangerous drugs charges.

Duncombe, Smith and Cash were also charged with possession of dangerous drugs and importation of dangerous drugs.