THE Bahamas has once again been listed as a major drug transit country by the United States.

In this year’s Presidential Determination on Major illicit Drug Transit and Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries, released yesterday, the Bahamas remained among several countries named.

While that designation remained, the US noted that a country’s presence on the Presidential Majors list is not necessarily an “adverse reflection” of its government’s counter-narcotics efforts or level of co-operation with the United States.

According to the US Embassy in the Bahamas, the United States enjoys close collaboration with the 
Bahamas on counter-narcotics and citizen security.

In fact, the embassy said the Bahamas’ inclusion on this list reflects the ongoing challenge it faces in combating transnational organised crime, and highlights the need for continued bilateral support to counter this threat.

“The United States and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas have been stalwart partners against illegal narcotics trafficking. The Bahamas is an important partner in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

“In 2012, the Bahamas’ Drug Enforcement Unit co-operated closely with United States and other foreign law enforcement agencies on drug investigations through Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT). These efforts contributed to the seizure of 236 kilograms of cocaine and the seizure of 162 metric tons of marijuana by Bahamian authorities during calendar year 2012,” the embassy said.