Police discovered nearly $17million worth of cultivated marijuana plants in an eastern area of Grand Bahama, one of the island’s biggest hauls.

According to authorities, a team of officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) along with drug enforcement agents were on routine aerial patrols in the eastern area of Grand Bahama around 4:00pm Monday when they discovered in excess of a 27 plot marijuana field.

Police said the field was scattered over a two mile radius of undeveloped land.

The plants totaled in excess of 167,000 with an approximate street value of $16.8 million.

Two high powered weapons – an AK 47 and a Mack 11 – with ammunition were also recovered, according to police.

However, no arrests were made.

Last year, officials discovered 20,660 marijuana plants in New Providence, 10 in Grand Bahama and 76 in other Family Islands, a total of 20,746 plants.

Figures further show that 1,251 people were arrested on drug charges in 2013, 1034 of whom were charged.

The 2014 US International Narcotics Control Strategy Report recently expressed concern over an increase in cocaine and marijuana washing ashore on Florida’s coastline last year, indicating a “parallel growth in the use of airdrops by traffickers.”

The “major” role Haitian and Haitian-Bahamian drug trafficking organisations play in moving cocaine was also given serious attention, as authorities pointed out that investigation of these organisations is hindered by “a lack of appropriately vetted and assigned Creole speakers within the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU).”
The document also pointed to delays in extradition requests. Only two people were extradited to the United States in 2013.

“Though the United States and The Bahamas have a strong mutual assistance relationship, improved procedures to expedite extraditions would bring drug crime offenders more quickly to trial and serve as a more credible deterrent for traffickers,” the reported noted.

“Currently, defendants can appeal a magistrate’s decision and then continue appeals up to Committee of the Privy Council in London, a process that can add years to extradition proceedings….Some subjects of U.S. extradition requests reportedly continue illegal drug smuggling activities while on bail awaiting the resolution of their cases.”

In other crime news:
Grand Bahama police are meantime warning the public to be on the lookout for fake US and Bahamian $100 notes, which are “especially used at night.”

Anyone with information that can further assist police with their investigation should call 350-3107/8, 911/919 or the nearest police station.