By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
MARIJUANA cultivation in The Bahamas is on the rise, with 2014 “resulting in the seizure and eradication of more marijuana plants than 2012 and 2013 combined,” according to the United States Department of State International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2015.
According to the newly released report, last year Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) seized 738,000 marijuana plants; 1.59 metric tons (MT) of cocaine; 746.8 MT of marijuana; 1.54 kilograms (kg) of heroin; 32 kg of hashish and 7.94 kg of ecstasy.
This represented a significant increase in seized cocaine and marijuana over 2013, when 1.01 MT and 27.92 MT were seized respectively, the report said.
The report also indicated that while cocaine use in The Bahamas seems to have diminished, “experimental and chronic use of marijuana, including among adolescents, remains a concern”.
“In addition, the number of marijuana plants destroyed via manual eradication surpassed the total number of plants eradicated in 2012 and 2013 combined, a possible indicator that traffickers are establishing new sources for marijuana destined for both local and international markets.
“However, bulk marijuana seizures from vessels originating in Jamaica still greatly exceeded the raw weight (in metric tons) of marijuana seized at cultivation,” the report said.
“OPBAT operations in 2014 resulted in the seizure and eradication of more marijuana plants than in any previous year on record, a possible indicator that marijuana cultivation in the Bahamas is on the rise. Seizure data from 2014 also suggests that smugglers increasingly traffic mixed loads of various forms of drugs through the Bahamas. Bahamian government surveys suggest that demand for cocaine has diminished, though a domestic market does continue to exist. Experimental and chronic use of marijuana, including among adolescents, remains a concern.”
The report said that this country’s National Anti-Drug Strategy places significant emphasis on drug abuse awareness, demand reduction, and treatment policies, adding, “programmes in these fields would be enhanced by additional resources.”
The report also named the Bahamas, once again, as one of the major money laundering countries and jurisdictions around the world.
The report noted that while the Bahamas has the requisite institutional and legal framework to combat money laundering, the number of prosecutions and convictions are low given the scale of the country’s financial sector.
“The government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas should continue to provide resources and training to its law enforcement, judicial, and prosecutorial bodies in order to investigate and prosecute money laundering; enforce existing legislation; and safeguard the financial system from possible abuses. With the expansion of gaming oversight, the government should ensure full implementation of appropriate safeguards, and provide additional suspicious transaction report (STR) training,” the report said.
“The financial intelligence unit (FIU), in cooperation with Royal Bahamas Police Force financial investigators, should continue its outreach, training, and coordination with banking and non-banking sectors to assist institutions in implementing and maintaining effective STR regimes. The government should also pass proposed legislation to criminalise the participation in organised criminal groups; establishing a currency transaction reporting system; and, implementing a system to collect and analyse information on the cross-border transportation of currency,” the report said.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 1 month ago
So legalize the way the American are....
My God the USA is one hypocritical country....
SP 9 years, 1 month ago
The PLP and FNM are too dam stupid to do that! These fools will be buying marijuana from USA in short order.....Gatta keep their secrets hidden and noses brown at all cost!
Jackass one and all!
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 1 month ago
It's funny. The USA warning us about dealings with China. Like the USA don't meddle in other countries business....
US hypocrisy is astounding....
milesair 9 years, 1 month ago
There is no shortage of U.S. hypocrisy. On one hand, marijuana is being legalized for medicinal use in many states and some states have legalized it for recreational use. But the U.S. never ceases to tell other countries in the world what to do. The U.S. needs to get its own house in order before telling other countries what to do. I can dream can't I?
henny 9 years, 1 month ago
You want the US to stay out of your business but a lot of you want them to come and get rid of the crime.
DreamerX 9 years, 1 month ago
I constantly see Bahamians ignorant of other countries attempt to opine on their politics. Please stop. Maybe read first. The U.S. is composed on 50 semi-autonomous states with a 51st federal state (not including territories and occupied lands). The normal states have autonomy of most regulations while the federal government imposed restrictions on donations, such as imposing certain laws in exchange for financial aide. But digress, the federal government has not legalized marijuana, therefor the federal agencies will continue to fight the drug war. So it is not hypocritical of federal agencies doing their job as described under federal policy. No state jurisdiction with pro marijuana stances is involved.
Read Bahamas.
PastorTroy 8 years, 9 months ago
One question, regardless of Federal, State, or local, IS THE DRUGS BEING GROWN IN THE CONTINENTAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? Yes/No, ok, clean that up FIRST, then tell others to clean theirs up!!! but it will not stop growing it's quite the opposite, the marijuana movement is flourishing here in the U.S, and am not complaining, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES HAS THE POWER TO STOP IT!!!!
duppyVAT 9 years, 1 month ago
We grow and produce marijuana and cocaine in Caribbean/SAmerica because North America is the main market for narcotics ........... if each before his doorstep swept ............. SMDH
USA/Canada consume 75% of the illegal narcotics in the world ......................... they are the problem, not us!!!!!!!!!
henny 9 years, 1 month ago
So if you didn't grow and produce it it wouldn't be a problem to anyone.
duppyVAT 9 years, 1 month ago
Supply and DEMAND my friend..................... democracy & capitalism
SP 9 years, 1 month ago
............................................................. STFU U.S.A. ........................................................
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01...">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01...
Nuff said!..........GGGEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZ!
Observer 9 years, 1 month ago
Now this is the worst. The guys are cultivating the stuff in the hundred of tonnes and they have the balls to advise us on what to do to prevent trafficking! Who are they, anyhow?
DreamerX 9 years, 1 month ago
Constantly the misunderstanding of US political structure makes me sad.
DualCit68 9 years, 1 month ago
Who are they? Come on you fools! You complain about the US but without them or Canada you wouldn't have cars, gas, food, or any type of economy. Bite the hand that feeds ya....
SP 9 years, 1 month ago
Not so fast ASS-KISSER......We pay for all those things...No favors there!
bandit 9 years, 1 month ago
Without the U.S., Canadian and European tourist coming to these Bahamas shores, how will we be able to pay for those things. Don't bite the hands that feed you. We have more to loose than they do. just saying
PastorTroy 8 years, 9 months ago
This is the same argument 'you good ole folks' use on African Americans living in America, Don't be stupid, the world CAN survive without America, probably be more peaceful too. #WhiteePowerr
SP 9 years, 1 month ago
American Government Talking Through Their Ass's With Fork Tongue.....Nothing new! ........
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-bi...">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-bi...
DualCit68 9 years, 1 month ago
Ass kissing? No sir See Captain Obvious we all know we pay for these things. Well most do others steal. I'm saying you tell me how Bahamaland is able to be self sufficient? Tell the truth. We aren't and never will be!
pablojay 9 years, 1 month ago
We have to remind them that Obama said that marijuana is no worse than alcohol, we are trying to help them out just like in the bootlegging days. We have to get some Kennedys in on it again.
John 9 years, 1 month ago
The United States legalized marijuana in most of its states for two reasons: it decided that the war on (marijuana) drugs was too expensive to continue and, despite it's best efforts too much money was leaving the country (United States) and ending up in countries like Colombia and Mexico where it is being used to support drug cartels, gang activity and maybe even terrorism. Secondly studies show that the preference among younger generations is switching away from alcohol and towards marijuana. Many companies feel that if weed continues to be a contraband they will lose out on great business opportunities. A number of states that have legalized weed for recreational use report that while the consumption of the product decreases when it became legal, they were still able to realize huge taxes from it. The Bahamas and Caribbean countries must prepare for the day when the U.S. pulls the assets used in the war against marijuana from the region. These countries can be flooded with drugs as they will not have the resources to combat the flow.
duppyVAT 9 years, 1 month ago
Tell them!!!!!!!!! .................... General. And we are not self-sufficient because we are too LAZY or DEPENDENT on US ....... and the Bay Street merchants will never support any efforts to become self-sufficient .......... and then there is our tax system that depend on imports
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