A sweeping U.S. federal indictment has exposed a cocaine smuggling network involving Bahamian police and military officers who allegedly helped get drugs into the United States. The charges accuse senior law enforcement officials in The Bahamas of accepting bribes to aid traffickers in moving massive shipments of South American cocaine through the Caribbean into U.S. markets.
The indictment has charged 13 individuals with accepting bribes to facilitate smuggling operations, providing cover for drug smugglers by leaking intelligence, obstructing DEA investigations, and manipulating customs.
The indictment names Royal Bahamas Police Force Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis and Royal Bahamas Defense Force Chief Petty Officer Darrin Roker as key figures, according to the Miami Herald. Both are accused of conspiring to import cocaine to the U.S., and protecting "massive shipments" of cocaine to sell across the U.S. by air and sea in exchange for cash payments.
Another officer, Sergeant Prince Albert Symonette, is implicated but remains outside U.S. custody. Curtis and Symonette allegedly accepted $10,000 each in October to assist with a 600-kilogram cocaine shipment. Prosecutors also allege that Curtis claimed a high-ranking Bahamian politician was willing to enable drug transfers for a $2 million bribe.
The case details years of collaboration between Bahamian officials and Colombian traffickers, who used the Bahamian archipelago as a critical transit point for drug shipments destined for the U.S. "Since at least May 2021, drug traffickers have smuggled tons of cocaine through The Bahamas into the United States, with the support and protection of corrupt Bahamian government officials," the indictment says.
Meanwhile, the indictment has highlighted the challenges of combating drug trafficking in the region. Although the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regularly intercepts shipments from The Bahamas, officials say corruption has undermined their efforts. Surprisingly, the DEA plans to close its Freeport office, citing a shift in priorities to focus on synthetic opioid trafficking.
While no politician has been named or charged, the scandal has shaken The Bahamas, leading to the resignation of Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander even though he hasn't been named in the indictment. Prime Minister Philip Davis acknowledged systemic corruption within law enforcement, pledging reforms and legislative action. "These actions not only endanger our citizens but have tarnished our nation's reputation," Davis said during a parliamentary session.
Opposition leaders, however, accuse Davis' Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) of damaging the nation's standing. The Free National Movement (FNM), in power during the alleged offenses, has called for the resignation of National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, who denies involvement. Political tensions boiled over this week as opposition lawmakers were forcibly removed from Parliament during heated debates.
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