Federal prosecutors have announced charges against high-ranking Bahamian law enforcement officials accused of enabling the flow of cocaine into the United States in exchange for bribes. Police and military officials from the Bahamas are accused of supporting the drug trade from the airports where cocaine enters the country to the boats used to transport shipments into the U.S. The indictment charges 13 people, including top officials like Police Chief Superintendent Elvis Nathaniel Curtis and Defence Force Chief Petty Officer Darrin Alexander Roker. These officials are alleged to have thwarted efforts to combat drug trade in the region and facilitate the flow of cocaine. The indictment also mentions the involvement of pilots in flying drug shipments into the Bahamas from Central and South America. The defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison for their involvement in the cocaine importation conspiracy.
Bahamian officials have denied the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration access to seized cocaine and impeded efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region. The indictment also mentions the involvement of Bahamian police Sargeant Prince Albert Symonette in facilitating cocaine shipments originating from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The Bahamian government agencies have promised to hold those responsible for wrongdoing fully accountable and ensure the safety and security of the nation. The indictment also highlights the rising overdose deaths from cocaine in the U.S., with nearly 30,000 fatalities reported last year. While overall overdose deaths are decreasing, cocaine-related fatalities are on the rise.
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