By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

TWO JAMAICAN women are in police custody after they were caught, in two separate incidents, attempting to smuggle almost $50,000 worth of cocaine into Nassau.

Both women were arrested shortly after disembarking a commercial plane from Panama.

The first seizure happened around 1pm at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

According to reports, officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit, acting on intelligence, conducted a search of the 30-year-old woman, who had just arrived on a commercial airline from Panama. Officers found 2.4 pounds of cocaine in her possession. The drugs have a street value of $16,000.

Officers also seized $1,200 in cash from the woman, which is suspected of being the proceeds of dangerous drugs.

About half an hour later, police arrested a 52-year-old Jamaican woman for possession of dangerous drugs.

According to reports, shortly after 1:30pm, DEU officers, acting on a tip, conducted a search of a hotel room in downtown Nassau and found an orange bag also containing 2.4 pounds of suspected cocaine, valued at $16,000.

They also seized $765.26 from the woman, suspected to be the proceeds of dangerous drugs.

Both women were taken into custody and are now facing charges of importation of dangerous drugs and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

Samuel Butler, Officer in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Unit, said based on their intelligence, they believe the women are connected and working for the same supplier.

“We think they are coming out of the same network. They say they don’t know each other but they both are from the same town in Jamaica and both came on flights from Panama with the same amount of drugs. Based on our interviews we have determined they are working for the same person,” he said.

Supt Butler also said DEU officers will be watching and scrutinizing anyone coming off a flight from Panama.

“We will be doing extra checks from these flights,” he said. “These flights from Panama are being watched. We have seen trends that our intelligence has materialized over time. We know all the drugs are not destined for here, but they are being passed through here. Flights coming from there are being profiled and individuals flying in from there are being profiled.”

Last year, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said the government is watching the Panamanian airline closely.

Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officials also said they were very concerned about the frequent use of the airline by narcotics traffickers to bring illegal drugs into the country directly from South and Central America.

Mr Wilchcombe said he believes that in order to curb the problem, visitors from this area should be properly informed beforehand of the severe punishment they face if caught bringing drugs or weapons into the Bahamas.

He said the government intends to post various advisories and warnings in Panama and other cities to discourage illegal activity.