Prime Minister Philip Davis. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune staff reporter
jrussell@tribunmedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday a major US drug trafficking case involving Bahamian law enforcement officers appears, on the surface, to involve entrapment.
Mr Davis suggested the officers named in the indictment may have been deliberately lured or manipulated into participating in the scheme.
Speaking to reporters, he confirmed that the government has not received a response to a diplomatic note sent last year seeking further details about an unnamed Bahamian politician alluded to in the indictment.
When asked if the lack of a reply from US officials was a concern, he said: “That whole operation is concerning to me, because on the face of it, it appeared to be, it appeared to be an entrapment of officers, and that is concerning.”
The indictment, issued by the US Southern District of New York, alleges that the unnamed politician was expected to authorise Bahamian law enforcement to facilitate a $2m cocaine trafficking operation into the United States.
It names several individuals, including ten Bahamians, accused of either abusing their positions or providing logistical and professional services — such as charter operations — to aid the drug scheme.
Among those named are Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis and former Royal Bahamas Defence Force Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker, who were both arrested in the United States late last year.
Recent court updates suggest the parties are considering a plea deal.
The US indictment alleged that Bahamian law enforcement officials provided protection to traffickers, accepted bribes, and offered to move cocaine shipments through Lynden Pindling International Airport. In one case, two officers allegedly accepted a $10,000 down payment to facilitate a 600kg cocaine shipment. Prosecutors claim officials also discussed using government or military aircraft to transport cash from Florida in exchange for a commission.
Comments
pileit 1 week, 4 days ago
Ahhhh, so dey geh swing, no coke was ever gonna make it to the States, ok them let em off the hook erryting cool, the US was wrong fa dat, trickin dem good Bahamians…. our trusted orfususs. Can’t make this sh*t up. One time he should keep his mouth shut and he shows is distorted view of corruption. “They was being misled”
ThisIsOurs 1 week, 4 days ago
Undercover is not entrapment
BMW 1 week, 4 days ago
Somebody feeling the heat???????????
quavaduff 1 week, 4 days ago
This was not a good response from the PM. We are to believe these grown men were "snookered/tricked" into doing drug related criminal acts even though they worked in the criminal justice industry. come on Brave.... SMH
moncurcool 1 week, 4 days ago
Is this dude serious? Even if it is entrapment, only people who want what is being offered go after it.
Come 2026 fast.
Sickened 1 week, 4 days ago
Wow! After this claim he can never say that he doesn't know the details of the case. He must of seen all of the evidence in order to make this statement.
jackbnimble 1 week, 4 days ago
.... and he is a criminal attorney. Go figure!
bahamianson 1 week, 4 days ago
Yeah, they entrapped them to take the plane , too. Talk about peer pressure. The prime minister was fumbling with his words. Does not sound like an individual whom has command of the Queen’s English. He was shaky at best and not convincing at all .
whatsup 1 week, 4 days ago
Protecting a corrupt politician. Only a corrupt politician can be entrapped. I will believe in justice in this country when corrupt politicians go to jail.
whatsup 1 week, 4 days ago
NAME THE POLITICIAN
birdiestrachan 1 week, 4 days ago
Entrapment it could very well be. If the USA has the name of the Government official they would have been very happy to reveal the name. Until then the evil ones will just continue in their muddled brains
realfreethinker 1 week, 4 days ago
I will bet bwave them already got the information. They are all corrupt to the core
Sickened 1 week, 4 days ago
Say evil ones with muddled brains. Damn!!! I can't believe you talking 'bout Brave like that.
rosiepi 1 week, 4 days ago
Tee hee! Entrapment?! How about trapped like rats!
On March 21st the US Attorney wrote to the presiding Justice to request a delay in pre-trial motions for 60 days as 4 of the indicted, Roker, Curtis, Simeon and one of their Columbian co-conspirators had been cooperating with their investigation such that they could be offered plea deals. So these guys have been spilling the beans for at least a month..
Now 3 weeks later since the formal request our dear leader is darkly alluding to the manipulation, the coercion of these hapless fellows into crime! Worse the US is still refusing to tell him the identity of the Big Bahamian Pol pulling the strings!
Should we soon expect to be delivered from our overlords of corruption? Will Davis&Co be flying off into the sunset with the plane we paid for? Is this reason for our bare Bahamian cupboards, squirreling away for the big lift off? Hmm how much rot will that plane hold??
TalRussell 1 week, 4 days ago
How can you not see it for what it 'tis! --- Runnin' your mouth via letter writins' durin' the month of April 2025 is one man's ongoing process. -- Remember; 'twas April of 2021 when he wrote that other character helpful letter during pre-sentencing phase in support of strikin' a plea bargain in a case before another US judge of a Bahamian earning approximately $200,000 to $300,000 in a human smuggling scheme. -- Just can't make this sh#t up of em's "character helpful" letter writins' as vouching for and on behalf of a certain status of defendants. -- Yes?
birdiestrachan 1 week, 4 days ago
when white folks went to Africa to bring back Afrikans as slaves they could not do it without the assistance of other black Africans no surprise that some still see white folks as saints glorified And black people as corrupt. but we cry out to THE ONE WHO LISTENS HEAR US OUR GOD AND PROTECT US FROM THE EVIL ONES
whatsup 1 week, 4 days ago
You are a racist...this has nothing to do with skin color. Corruption does not know color of skin.
Twocent 1 week, 3 days ago
History…Afrikaans are descended from the Dutch I.e. white. The sub-Saharan people you mention were Bantu.
ThisIsOurs 1 week, 4 days ago
"appears, on the surface, to involve entrapment."
I feel really sorry for the people Mr Davis addressed these remarks to, because he has to believe they're utter illiterates.
No defence lawyer can speak about appearance of entrapment "on the surface". There is nothing "surface" about it. It is a technical defense that a lawyer has to prove to a judge thar a sequence of events bears out.
Btw, "Entrapment" and "caught in an undercover operation" are two completely different things. Heard some people saying "clear entrapment". And they een see no transcript yet. Boy...
Anyway the PM and his supporters can take comfort in the entire episode being on video, it will be clear who enticed who and the name of the high ranking politician to boot
Sickened 1 week, 3 days ago
Davis dem losing plenty liquid through their sweat glands. LOL!!!
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