OPBAT OPERATIVE SEIZED 1159 POUNDS OF COCAINE

UNCLAS NASSAU 002452 SIPDIS STATE PASS TO WHA/CAR DOCONNOR STATE PASS TO INL/LP KBROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BF SNAR OPBAT SUBJECT: OPBAT OPERATIVE SEIZED 1159 POUNDS OF COCAINE ¶1. Summary. On December 8, 2003 charges were filed before a Nassau magistrate against three individuals arrested on Saturday in connection with the seizure of 1,159.40 pounds of cocaine. The seizure was completed by members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in cooperation with members of the Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (OPBAT). End of Summary. ¶2. Over the weekend, drug traffickers braved the rough waters brought by a neighboring tropical depression to move a large cocaine shipment from Haiti to The Bahamas. Acting on intelligence gathered, OPBAT mobilized air, marine and land resources to conduct a round the clock surveillance on two small vessels believed to be involved in the contraband near the Lucayan waterway of the island of Grand Bahama. ¶3. After the crew ran the vessels ashore, the police confiscated the cargo and arrested three of the four Bahamian nationals crew members The men were charged with possessing dangerous drugs with intent to supply. It is estimated that the narcotics have a street value of USD $16 million. ¶4. This significant seizure that attracted the headlines of one of Nassau's major newspaper took place in a busy weekend that netted, in separate mission, intercepts of 1200 pounds of marijuana and a Haitian migrant smuggling boat with more than 300 people on board. OPBAT is a multi-nation, multi-agency initiative that includes a strong USG participation and support and is the largest and longest cooperative efforts overseas of any government involved in drug enforcement. WITAJEWSKI