BAHAMAS - Collaboration with US against drug trafficking

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC):

The Bahamas says it remains committed to working with the United States in eradicating the illegal drugs trade.

"While our efforts to defeat this complex problem will always require vigilance, the existence for more than 25 years of the Joint Drug Task Force, undoubtedly, serves as a catalyst through which our governments can further enhance security initiatives in a spirit of mutual cooperation," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Brent Symonette.

He told delegates attending the Counter-Narcotics and Illegal Migration Joint Task Force meeting that the presence of both United States and Bahamian officials "clearly demonstrates the commitment of our respective governments to continue to comprehensively seek the most effective means of eliminating this threat to national security and our societies as a whole".

Since the last meeting, in February 2009, both countries have continued to pursue and strengthen their alliance through operational legal frameworks such as Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), the Comprehensive Mari-time Agreement and the Enduring Friendship Initiative.

For the year 2009, efforts of OPBAT, the DEA and the DEU led to the seizure of 2,660 pounds of cocaine and 77,475 pounds of marijuana. During that same year, 452 illegal migrants were detained.

So far this year, official figures show that the security forces have seized 404 pounds of cocaine, 16,401.50 pounds of marijuana, 35,000 marijuana plants and 53 pounds of hashish.