By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FOUR Bahamian men are in police custody in connection with the seizure of over $118,000 worth of marijuana early yesterday morning.

According to reports, sometime around 12:50am on Monday, a team of officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit, acting on intelligence, stopped and searched a white Odyssey van in the area of Chippingham near the Humane Society. 

Police say the van contained five crocus sacks containing suspected marijuana with a total weight of 118.2 pounds. The drugs have an estimated street value of $118,000.

The van was occupied by a 34-year-old man, however three other men, ages 31, 35 and 43 were later taken into custody in connection with this matter.

This drug discovery comes less than a month after three other Bahamian men were arrested when they were caught in Coral Harbour, allegedly with more than half a million dollars worth of marijuana. The total weight of the marijuana in that seizure was 570 pounds with an estimated street value of $570,000.

“There has been an increase in the trafficking movement, which has led to an increase in seizures,” said Supt Samuel Butler, Officer-in-charge of the Drug Enforcement Unit, in an interview earlier this year when asked about the frequency of police drug seizures.

“I can’t say why it has increased but from my point of view it seems that more Bahamians are making an effort to go into producing countries, like Jamaica, and actually retrieve the drugs and bring it back themselves.”

So far, for the year, police have captured more than $12 million worth of marijuana and $13 million worth of cocaine.