Bahamian Drug Suspect Survived Florida Plane Crash, Linked to Senior Politician
A drug trafficking suspect rescued after a plane crash off Florida was found with $30,000 in a bag bearing a Bahamian politician's name. Opposition leaders are demanding a full inquiry.
Drug suspect linked to Bahamian politician after Florida plane crash
A suspected drug trafficker who survived a plane crash off the coast of Florida late last week was found carrying roughly $30,000 in a bag bearing the name of an unidentified senior Bahamian politician, according to nbcmiami.com, citing a U.S. federal agent's deposition.
The suspect, one of 11 survivors of the crash, was subsequently arrested. He had previously been deported from the United States more than a decade ago following convictions on drug and money laundering charges.
A court document filed May 14 in the Southern District of New York — one day after the crash — alleges that the suspect met the unnamed politician at the Bahamian Parliament in Nassau in October 2024. The meeting reportedly concerned a deal involving approximately 2,200 pounds of cocaine. The document states the politician "could provide security for the planned cocaine shipment" and was introduced to another unnamed suspect as a "future associate."
DEA Special Agent Michael Coleman, in his deposition, alleged that multiple drug trafficking organisations are moving narcotics shipments "under the protection of local officials" in the Bahamas. Coleman added that the suspect operates a business used to bid on Bahamian government construction contracts and launder drug proceeds.
The DEA has been investigating drug trafficking networks operating in the Bahamas and other countries since approximately 2022, Coleman said.
Opposition leaders moved swiftly to demand accountability. Michael Pintard, leader of the Free National Movement, said Monday he doubts Prime Minister Philip Davis — who secured re-election the day of the crash — will hold anyone responsible.
"We issued warnings about the close relationship between members of this administration and characters of interest to police locally and internationally," Pintard told reporters.
Dr. Duane Sands, chairman of the Free National Movement, told The Nassau Guardian that the current administration was bringing shame and embarrassment to the country and called for a formal commission of inquiry. "The Bahamian people are entitled to know," he was quoted as saying. "The heart and soul of our country are at stake."
The prime minister's office issued a statement Tuesday through spokesman Latrae Rahming, saying the government is treating the matter "extremely seriously." Local law enforcement will open its own inquiry, and the government will contact U.S. officials to request the sharing of evidence. The statement noted that no official information identifying any public official in connection with the case has been received.
"Wherever wrongdoing is established, any person involved will be held accountable without fear or favor, and the chips will fall where they may," the statement read.
The allegations compound existing pressure on the Bahamian government. In December 2024, the country's police commissioner resigned after a sergeant and two officers were indicted in what the U.S. Justice Department described at the time as "a massive cocaine conspiracy enabled by corrupt Bahamian government officials."
Source: Google News BS — Crime