US Customs grab Nassau drug boat

The boat detained in Florida.

As of Thursday, July 13, 2017

Some of the packages of suspected drugs which were concealed behind cans of Junkanoo Punch.

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

UNITED States Customs and Border Protection officials in Miami, Florida, seized 150 pounds of cocaine on Tuesday on a vessel that originated from The Bahamas.

When contacted for comment, Chief Superintendent Samuel Butler, head of the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), said officials in the capital have received little information about the incident and he is unclear if any of the passengers were Bahamian.

According to the Miami Herald, four crew members of a fishing vessel were apprehended after US Customs and Border Protection officials seized the drugs during a routine inspection.

The boat, named the Wes Win, was one of two arriving from Nassau that was flagged for a regular inspection at the RMK Merrill-Stevens Shipyard at 881 NW 13th Avenue, The Miami Herald reported.

When officers boarded the boat, they found about 70 blue bundles of the drugs nestled behind plastic-wrapped Junkanoo Punch soda cans.

According to The Miami Herald, the drugs ended up weighing about 150 pounds. No drugs were found on the other boat.

Officers interviewed at least five people, including one who was underage, and four adults were detained.

The names of those apprehended were not released.

The drugs have an estimated street value of $1.8 million dollars.

Investigations continue.

rqd2 6 years, 9 months ago

USCBP will keep that boat and sell it at auction. How much of that $ will The Bahamas get?

sheeprunner12 6 years, 9 months ago

Is it true that it was a Segillian fishing boat???? ........ If true, not a good sign

banker 6 years, 9 months ago

No money at all to the Bahamas.

Reality_Check 6 years, 9 months ago

Somehow I don't think any of those mentioned at the end of this YouTube video, including Chuck Fox, are very happy about USCBP seizing the Wes Win and its illegal cargo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCEgg...">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCEgg...

Sickened 6 years, 9 months ago

LOL! Those guys famous now!

alfalfa 6 years, 9 months ago

Not Segillian sheeprunner12, but originally from Current, residing in Nassau, but presently at a government facility in Miami. They come from a long line of honest fishermen, but got greedy, and deserve whatever penalty is given them. Easy money is not always easy.

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 9 months ago

Not worth it

bahamas12345 6 years, 9 months ago

Looks like there luck ran out when they were caught this time, I'm sure they have made enough$$ over the years.

sheeprunner12 6 years, 9 months ago

This really exposes what greed leads to ........... someone on that boat wanted to make a quick buck and not wait for the crawfish season ............ But this is nothing new for our people ........ Most Bahamians (black or white) with these kinds of connections to Florida through boat or plane probably do this kind of thing going back to the US Civil War and Bootlegging .......... The temptation is so great to make narco-dollars that the risk to smuggle drugs is appealing for otherwise "honest" Bahamians

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