The US Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bahamian authorities eradicated more than 200,000 illegal marijuana plants in the Bahamas, on Wednesday February 6. In total, 460,000 pounds of marijuana was destroyed.
On Wednesday February 6, 2019, a US Coast Guard forward deployed MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Operation Bahamas, Turks & Caicos (OPBAT) recognized what appeared to be a strong scent of marijuana while flying over Andros Island on a joint narcotic interdiction patrol.
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The US Coast Guard helicopter transported US DEA agents and Royal Bahamas Police Force Officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit to the area to identify and eradicate over 200,000 marijuana plants.
About 460,000 pounds of marijuana was destroyed during the mission.
Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos is an international operation between the US, The Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos governments, aiming to identify, disrupt, and dismantle illicit smugglers transiting through The Bahamas.
Cmdr. Mike Benson, the Coast Guard OPBAT Director, mentioned:
The efforts put forth by the Coast Guard, DEA, and the Bahamian Police Force is another success story highlighting the effectiveness of OPBAT’s counter-drug operation
