Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03NASSAU1972
2003-10-03 16:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:  

OPBAT OPERATIVE SEIZED 800 POUNDS OF COCAINE

Tags:  BF SNAR OPBAT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS NASSAU 001972 

SIPDIS

INL/LP TO KEVIN BROWN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BF SNAR OPBAT
SUBJECT: OPBAT OPERATIVE SEIZED 800 POUNDS OF COCAINE

SUMMARY
UNCLAS NASSAU 001972

SIPDIS

INL/LP TO KEVIN BROWN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BF SNAR OPBAT
SUBJECT: OPBAT OPERATIVE SEIZED 800 POUNDS OF COCAINE

SUMMARY

1. On October 1, 2003 charges were filed before a Nassau
Magistrate against eight of the nine individuals arrested on
September 27 in connection with a seizure of more than 800
pounds of cocaine. The seizure was completed by members of
the Royal Bahamas Police Force in cooperation with the
members of The Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos
(OPBAT).
END OF SUMMARY


2. Acting on investigative intelligence gathered by the Drug
Enforcement Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, OPBAT
helicopters identified an illegal air drop near the island of
Eleuthera. Alerted of the whereabouts of the vessel, marine
units intercepted the vessel and arrested its occupants. The
aircraft crew were later arrested at Marsh Harbour on the
island of Abaco.


3. OPBAT is a three nation, interagency drug interdiction
operation based in Nassau. The September 27 operative
resulted in the confiscation of an aircraft, a go-fast vessel
and more than 840 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street
value of $12 million.


4. This spectacular seizure that attracted headlines by the
major newspapers in Nassau is exemplary of the effectiveness
of OPBAT drug eradication efforts in The Bahamas.
WITAJEWSKI