The four men, three Bahamians and one Jamaican, appeared before Magistrate Carolita Bethel. 41-year-old, Ritchmond McKinney of High Rock, South Andros, 37-year-old, Nathan Stubbs of Joe Farrington Road, 24-year-old Outhnell Andrew, also known as, Outhnell Strachan of Mangrove Cay, Andros and 36-year-old Hensley Albert Nicholas of Portland, Jamaica were charged with four offenses-conspiracy to import dangerous drugs, conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply, importation of dangerous drugs and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. However, all of the men pleaded not guilty. The men were remanded to HMP and a bail hearing has been set for 2 October, 2006.
Reports indicate that over the weekend, police revealed that an OPBAT operation uncovered 1,400 pounds of marijuana hidden in two caves. The seizure occurred when officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit in Nassau and Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos traveled to South Andros and executed a search warrant.
According to officers from the Kemp’s Bay police station in Andros, the men were flown to Nassau Friday evening and were kept in police custody for further questioning before appearing in court. During the initial stages of the investigation, police liaison officer, Inspector Walter Evans said 34 bales of marijuana were found in a number of crocus sacks. “The officers found around 34 (bales) in the caves…where the intended drug dealers placed it,” said Inspector Evans.
He added that it seems to be a rising trend in the drug world for the “sellers and distributors” to hide their drugs in caves and other unlikely places. “They tend to conceal their drugs in places where they deem they are safe,” said Inspector Evans. “They use abandoned vehicles and old houses, and now caves…and activity like this is one of the major contributors to the rise in crime”
Police believe the marijuana was bound for the US via a boat.
Inspector Evans said the joint operation resulted from an anonymous “tip at one point.”
An Andros-based officer said, “Right now we believe that the drugs were not grown here in The Bahamas, but were imported from Jamaica.”
Friday’s drug discovery marks the second find in less than a month.
On September 11, officers from Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos spotted three vessels in the area of Sandy Port, Abaco, dropping off suspected illegal contraband. Upon further investigation, officers found 56 bales of marijuana that day, and an additional three bales were found in the same area the following day.
“At this time, it is not believed that the two incidents are connected, but investigations will continue,” said Inspector Evans. He added that no suspects have been identified in the Abaco incident.
By: LASHONNE OUTTEN, The Nassau Guardian
