U.S. and Bahamian officials vow to clean up islands
By ANTHONY CAPRON
The Caribbean will no longer be a drug traffickers safe haven, said United States Attorney General John Ashcroft as he announced in Washington, DC Wednesday the unsealing of indictments against more than 50 people in the Caribbean, The US, Colombia, and The Bahamas.
The Bahamian ring leaders — Melvin Maycock and Pedro Smith — were named as head of an organisation that is affiliated with Elias Cobos-Munoz, leader of one of the largest drug trafficking and drug transportation organisations operating in Colombia and Jamaica. Cobos-Munoz is being held by authorities in Colombia and faces extradition to the US.
On hand at the Department of Justice for the announcement of the unsealed indictments were Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson, Asst Commissioner Reginald Ferguson, Chief Supt Hulan Hanna, Supt. Raymond Gibson, Director of Prosecutions Bernard Turner and Crown Prosecutor Francis Cumberbach.
Mr Ashcroft's announcement culminated the DEA's "Caribbean Initiative" under
the code name "Busted Manatee" and "Double talk," a 29 month-long international Organised Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation into cocaine and marijuana smuggling.
The overall impact of the Caribbean Initiative has been the arrest of more than 330 people, the seizure of $85 million in cash and 26,000 kilos of cocaine. Mr Ashcroft said the result has been a 10 per cent reduction in the amount of drugs coming through the corridor. He said the ultimate goal is to cut off the supply of drugs to the United States.
According to a separate indictment, also unsealed on Wednesday, the Bahamian organisation allegedly transported cocaine and marijuana via aircraft and boat into the United States. It said that in partnership with Cobos-Munoz, both organisations shipped multi-ton quantities of illegal drugs into the United States, realising gross proceeds in excess of $275 million.
"One by one, we are dismantling the most dangerous drug cartels that poison our citizens and communities," said Mr Ashcroft. He said by cutting off the flow of illegal drugs the health and welfare of citizens are being secured.
Commissioner Paul Farquharson said "Bahama Tidal Wave," an operation that began in 2002, targeted several major drug trafficking organisations in The Bahamas, The United States, Canada, Colombia and Jamaica with the objective of disrupting the illicit trafficking being smuggled from Colombia through The Bahamas to the US and Canada.
According to Mr Farquharson, that operation seized more than 5,000 pounds of cocaine, 1,100 pounds of marijuana, and almost $830,000 in cash, suspected proceeds of dangerous drugs. He said 19 people have been charged in court for various drug offences and two others are being sought.
"The Royal Bahamas Police Force is committed to the continuation of relentlessly going after any and all drug barons and organisations that operate within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas," said Mr Farquharson.
Ambassador Joshua Sears also spoke at the press conference and congratulated all the participating law enforcement agencies for a successful operation.
