By Licec Bastian
Police confiscated a total of nearly 1.5 million dollars in dangerous drugs in or around the Family Islands on Thursday.
Three suspects are in custody as a result of efforts by law enforcment agencies.
A 44-year-old and a 36-year-old, both males were arrested on Thursday afternoon after they failed to evade police in waters 40 miles southwest of Crooked Island.
A joint operation sometime around 1:30pm Thursday between officers of the Royal Bahamas Defence and Police Forces, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Customs And Border Protection, Air Marine Operations (AMO), and the U.S Coast Guard, resulted in a large quantity of suspected marijuana, with an estimated street value of over one million dollars being confiscated.
Preliminary reports revealed that officers observed a go fast vessel with two males, who upon seeing the officers began throwing packages, suspected to be dangerous drugs into the water.
As the officers approached the vessel, the men reportedly sped off which resulted in a short chase; however, they were eventually apprehended and their 33 crocus sacks of suspected marijuana which was retrieved from the water.
The drugs weigh an estimated 1,142 pounds.
Over on Eleuthera a 45-year-old male resident of Gregory Town was arrested sometime after 9:50pm after he was allegedly found in possession of suspected marijuana and cocaine.
Officers attached to Operation Safer Communities, while conducting saturation patrols throughout the Eleuthera stopped and searched the driver of a silver Japanese vehicle. It was during that search that officers discovered packages of suspected marijuana and cocaine.
The marijuana weighted three pounds with an estimated street value of $3,000 and the cocaine weighed 15 ounces.
Over on Grand Bahama shortly after 11:00.p.m officers attached to the Drug Enforcement Unit, acting on information went to an area of Coral Gardens where they observed two males engaged in a conversation. Upon seeing the officers, they fled the area; officers gave chase, however the males made good their escape.
Searches of the area were conducted, which led to the discovery of a plastic bag that contained a quantity of suspected marijuana. The drugs weighed two pounds with an estimated street value of $2,000.00.
Police investigations continue into these matters.
