DRUG MURDERS DOUBLE

Drug-related homicides more than doubled in 2006 over the same period
in 2005, according to senior police officials, who on Monday revealed
that drugs were at the root of major crimes in The Bahamas last year
and vowed a major clampdown on the illicit trade in 2007.

In 2006, there were 12 drug-related murders, according to police. In
2005 there were five.

According to 2006 statistics, cocaine seizures totaled 2,680 pounds;
marijuana totaled 11,733 pounds and marijuana plant seizures totaled
41,068. Additionally for the same period, $2,061,497 in drug-related
money was also seized.

Persons arrested and prosecuted for drug offences in 2006 totaled
1,219 compared to 1,401 for the same period in 2005.

On Monday, Police Commissioner Paul Farquharson warned criminals
involved in the drug trade that they would soon be put out of business.

"During the past year officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) have
put a number of persons out of business and behind bars. Some of these
were barons that have been operating what can only be described as
drug supermarkets while others were running small operations," he said.

"I wish to serve notice on all such persons, be they the kingpins, or
the mom and pop petty dealer, you will be targeted and you too will be
taken down and placed before the court."

Central Detective Unit Chief Superintendent Marvin Dames said The
Bahamas' geographical position still makes it very prone to the drug
trade.

"I think one has to understand that as a country we rest in the middle
of the major leading consumer nation in the world - the United States
- - and on the other end, the major drug-producing country in the world
- - Columbia," he said.

"Is drugs at the root of most of our problems? Of course it is. Our
communities are suffering as a result. The problems we are facing are
in these communities. You have individuals who are selling drugs to
any and everyone and they impose their ways on the community."

Mr. Dames said CDU would step up its policing in high-crime
communities, like the Over-the-Hill area and rid it of the abundance
of drug houses.

"There are people who are intimidated by these guys, and they are
afraid to report it to the police. We want to ensure the public that
we will rid their communities of this problem. Many of these persons
are fighting against one another. There are too many turf wars, but
who is suffering at the end of the day? Good community citizens," he
said.

Raymond Gibson, chief of the Drug Enforcement Unit, added that The
Bahamas because of its geographical location continues to be used and
exploited by drug traffickers and other criminals as they transship
their illegal drugs, weapons and undocumented migrants from drug
producing and poor countries to consumer and wealthier countries in
North America.

"The relentless inflow of this dirty cargo and the brazen disregard
for the laws of the Bahamas by drug traffickers was met with
determination, commitment and fortitude of members of the Royal
Bahamas Police Force drug enforcement unit and its law enforcement
partners," he said.

"Over the years the interdiction of illicit drug enforcement
consignments as they are smuggled in and out of The Bahamas has proven
to be a formidable task requiring the deployment of tremendous
financial, technical, human and other resources to combat this
ever-increasing global trend."

The cultivation of marijuana on various Family Islands continues to be
a significant recurring trend in The Bahamas, according to police.

In 2006, five marijuana fields were discovered in Andros, four in
Eleuthera, two in Grand Bahama and one in Cat Island, police said.

In January 2006, officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, while
on helicopter patrol in Andros observed a male hiding in a bushy area.
Upon checking the area police discovered a makeshift structure with
personal items, food and cooking utensils, according to reports.

Police said officers inspected a clearing next to the tent and
discovered over 2,000 marijuana plants.

Two Jamaican men were arrested and later charged for drug
cultivation.

In 2006, the Drug Enforcement Unit and its law enforcement partners
increased their surveillance of Haitian vessels, which, according to
senior police officials, are fast becoming the number one smuggling
trend in the Bahamas.

Drug smugglers are also getting very creative with hiding narcotics,
according to police.

Officers have reportedly discovered cocaine and marijuana hidden in
bags of coals on board the vessels.

According to Mr. Gibson, police arrested several persons after they
were caught leaving the Haitian vessels with illegal drugs and
concealing them in their personal vehicles.

"The Drug Enforcement Unit and the Defence Force Harbour Patrol Unit
in a collaborative effort confiscated a number of Haitian sloops after
a significant amount of marijuana and cocaine were discovered
concealed between the ribs of the vessels," Mr. Gibson said.

"Due to the increased trend of drugs and weapons trafficking posed by
traffickers out of Haiti various task forces have been established to
effectively address this vexing problem. Transnational drug
traffickers in 2006 also continued to use various methods of
concealment to import illicit drugs into The Bahamas via our
international airports."

In November 2006, officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit's Freeport
office along with The Bahamas Customs and Container Port Security
Department acting on information searched a container sailing through
The Bahamas and destined for Nigeria. Officers discovered 26 boxes
filled with 285 gray, black and clear packages of cocaine were in this
container totaling 627 pounds, police said.

In March 2006, officers while on Long Island observed a Mitsubishi
Lancer vehicle with two male occupants, according to police.

After police searched the men's car they discovered 30 bales of
marijuana with a weight of 1,353 pounds hidden in the bushes. The men
and two others were later arrested and charged.

In June 2006 DEU officers executed a search warrant on a residence in
New Providence. Officers discovered 243 pounds of cocaine, 32 pounds
of marijuana and a .38 revolver stashed throughout the home. The sum
of $227,648 suspected to be proceeds derived from the sale of these
dangerous drugs was also seized, police reported. One occupant was
arrested and charged with various drug trafficking and firearm offences.

In August 2006 officers of DEU division in Grand Bahama searched a
vehicle parked in front of a residence. Upon searching they discovered
three travel bags, upon closer examination officers found $1,345,692
in U.S. currency. A number of persons were arrested. The matter is
presently before the court.

The Drug Enforcement Unit along with its partners both locally and
internationally successfully concluded over 52 major drug interdiction
operations.

Mr. Gibson said police remain committed to its war on
drugs.

"As we embrace the challenges thrust upon us as a result of drug
trafficking we daily recommit ourselves to the fight," he said.

"After countless, but rewarding years of continuous struggle, we
remain focused and determined to build a strong relationship with the
general public and our law enforcement partners. It is imperative that
we confront the drug trafficker at every turn. By doing so we will
deny him safe passage in The Bahamas and be even more effective in
interdicting his illicit cargo, dismantling his organization and
depriving of criminal proceeds. We solicit your support."