Officers arrive at Odyssey Airport Tuesday afternoon following the operation on Abaco. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN and American law enforcement officers teamed up for massive, surprise operation in Abaco yesterday, uncovering drugs and illegal weapons while arresting 26 people.
Flanked by dozens of officers when the group arrived at Odyssey Airport yesterday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said police are intent on finishing the year strong.
“This is one of many to be continued,” he said of the operation. “We are not just focusing on New Providence. Crime trends in Abaco continues with a number of shootings at various nightclubs.”
ACP Fernander said the operation started 5pm Sunday with a sea campaign. Those officers were joined yesterday by a team that arrived by air.
Of the 26 people arrested, 21 were men and five were women, he said.
Two pistols with ammunition were recovered, with four people expected to be charged in connection with those weapons.
“We also recovered a goodly amount of marijuana,” ACP Fernander said. “Two individuals were arrested with a large sum of money totalling $100,000 and they can’t give a satisfactory account for that. Others were arrested for various offences.”
Massive, random joint operations have become a feature under Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson.
In January, 30 people were arrested during an operation in southern New Providence. In March, 51 people were arrested in Grand Bahama. Last month, 21 people were arrested in New Providence.
ACP Fernander could not say how many of these people are ultimately charged with a crime.
Not everyone was happy with the police’s latest operation, however.
Shawn Roberts, a government employee who serves as a deacon at Mount Zion Baptist in Sandy Point, Abaco, complained to The Tribune yesterday that police arrested him yesterday in a case of mistaken identity around 2am in the presence of his “shaken” family.
They took his electronic devices and handcuffed his hands “tightly” and “painfully,” he said. He estimated that he was in custody for several hours before an Abaco police officer convinced officers from New Providence that he was unlikely to be their target.
“I was very upset but I tried to be patient,” he said. “At one point when I was trying to walk to the bus, one of the fellas turned to me and told me ‘don’t walk to fast because I might try run and then he gon’ have to shoot me.’ I was hot.” Asked why he decided to talk publicly about the episode, Mr Roberts said: “I hope they would have their information correct before they go to someone’s house 2am in the morning with foolishness.”
Mr Roberts said police did not apologize to him for the arrest.
Comments
Greentea 5 years, 6 months ago
Export that ganja to Canada! Y'all burnin money.
Islangal1 5 years, 6 months ago
Greentea, ya know what they say. Where there's no vision, the people perish! Bahamians will perish in debt while the government blindly burn money. What they don't burn they will pocket.
TheMadHatter 5 years, 6 months ago
Greentea - Government don't need money, dey got VAT. They can raise it anytime. 7.5, 12. I hear the next jump gah be 15. Then they can always go to 20. Who can stop them?
They can do whatever they feel. All we can do is get a inked-up finger every five years. You think that's their way of "giving us the finger"???
John 5 years, 6 months ago
In the main time Coca Cola has signed a $4 Billion dollar deal to with a marijuana company to develop a marijuana infused drink that may go on sale as early as next years. And the company that makes Coors beer is also developing amarijuana infused beer and other drinks that they expect will rake in billions in profits. Tobacco companies are busy developing commercial grade marijuana to be sold in the same country that ... make sure they destroy what was confiscated ok.
John 5 years, 6 months ago
BTW companies in Canada are paying up to $1,000 a month for persons to participate in their marijuana testing programs. Persons must smoke the products regularly, share their experiences on social media and attend the company’s promotional events. I n addition to the $1,000, testers will also get a $250 a month expense allowance.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 6 months ago
Meanwhile hospitals are reporting an increase in a strange vomiting illness in some habitual marijuana users. This thing is not all a bed of roses...well it may be, but some people get the thorns. In all the hype and euphoria it's still a chemical, we're all unique chemical compositions and we will be affected differently when injestingchemicals, just like any other drug.
Porcupine 5 years, 6 months ago
Careful for what you wish for..............................
https://www.rutherford.org/issues/pol...">https://www.rutherford.org/issues/pol...
John 5 years, 6 months ago
Well remember the US sprayed paraquat ( a dangerous and banned poison) on marijuana fields in Jamie’s and Colombia and Mexico for a number of years. And these are some of the symptoms to ingesting that drug. And other symptoms for inhaling it. The whole legal marijuana thing, first as a dangerous drug and now as a miracle cure all and as a super wonderful recreational drug is an overkill. Researchers are already reporting that some of the herb (no it is not a chemical). does not have the medicinal properties in significant amounts to be beneficial to patients. And even some strains sold as a street drug has no ‘high’ but is more addicting. Hopefully the marijuana fad will quickly fade. Would most people who smoke pot want a cola or beer lasso infused with weed?
John 5 years, 6 months ago
Remember when everything was about the ‘gingseng root? And persons spent hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars on this substance with the expectation. It would raise the dead or, at least revitalize it. Then ginseng was suddenly an ingredient in everything. Companies made millions just adding it to their list of ingredients or selling fake products. Today the average person doesn’t even know what it is.
BahamasForBahamians 5 years, 6 months ago
A similar exercise was conducted in New Providence where very few if any persons were charged.
Largely all persons that were arrested were freed and monies seized had to be returned.
Can the police comment on the success of these exercises ?
TalRussell 5 years, 6 months ago
by TalRussell
geostorm 5 years, 6 months ago
Great job Mr. Commissioner Fernander! We have to return our society back to a law abiding one, where criminal elements think twice before they engage in illegal activities. I have no sympathy for anyone who ends up in the hands of the law. Stay away from illegal activities! Work hard and earn an honest living. Yinna too like "quick" money!
joeblow 5 years, 6 months ago
Wonder the nationalities! Too many hi-shuns in Abaco!
TalRussell 5 years, 6 months ago
Why hasn't the combined Bahamaland and American law enforcement officers, not been ordered teamed up for massive surprise operation in in Nassau Town - to uncovering whereabouts for arrest - the comrade parliamentarians for refusing file in timely manner - their respective Financial Disclosures - under penalty 2 years imprisonment? Freedom from arrest for all - until arrest the defaulting low-life comrade parliamentarians can be confirmed as having been arrested and held as out further service colony islands as american and Bahamalander policeman's does prepare their asses for camera picture taking stroll down Bank Lane.
DDK 5 years, 6 months ago
"BAHAMIAN and American law enforcement officers teamed up ". WHY THIS TEAM UP????
DWW 5 years, 6 months ago
Govt hates competition. Lol. But seriously, just watched Bloomberg show talking about the first ganja ETF... any boat the bananas might have got on has done left.
John 5 years, 6 months ago
Say policy and the feds grab up one school boy and bring him to Nassau cause he had one small amount of marijuana on him. Bypass the Abaco legal system completely for a cup of coffee. Details about this to follow.
TalRussell 5 years, 6 months ago
Evidence mounting daily justify Her Excellency Marguerite's royal summoning 35 Imperial red shirts House MP's up Mount Fitzwilliam for royal firing as the colony islands governing political party... If Her Excellency is not up to the job - it's time the Comrade Queen to forthwith appoint colonial governor to set his or her sail from across the pond to direction Nassau Harbour.
John 5 years, 6 months ago
Can someone please explain this: marijuana stocks are now actively being traded on Wall Street stock market. These stocks represent research companies as well as companies that sell or plan to sell medicinal or recreational marijuana. Both Bahamians and Americans are allowed to legally purchase and trade these stocks. Hasn’t the time for these countries to establish a clear policy on marijuana so as not to appear to be hypocritical or (in the case of the US) contrary to their own actions.
John 5 years, 6 months ago
Nice Photo Op anyway. But they say judgment in the church begins at the pulpit. And so it is with crime and law and order in a country. It begins with the minister of national security, the commissioner of police and the police force. And to enforce law and maintain law and order the police must also be law abiding, both as private citizens and as law enforcement and peacekeeping officers. How ever will crime be brought to a head if whenever there is a major crime, the police go out and injure physically or mentally dozens of young men or other citizens in their hunt for the person who committed the crime. Marvin Dames it is your charge, if that in 2018, your police officers have to beat and force suspects to sign confessions and admit to crimes, only to find that the case does not stand up in court. There’s been a massive promotion exercise just before the last election but how qualified are your policemen? How many of them have sat in a classroom since basic training? How many have had specialized training or have gone on and gotten associates or bachelors degrees? The time is now to bring the Royal Bahamas Police Force into the new ear. The one of new innovations and technology. Criminals and becoming more brazen and getting smarter at crime. Time to start investing more in your men and making then the Bahamas finest officers. Get rid of rogue officers and those who refuse to improve their education. Intelligent and educated officers do not prey on innocent civilians.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID