By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

POLICE marijuana seizures decreased last year compared to 2014, however there was a slight increase in the amount of cocaine seized during the same time period, according to the latest drug statistics.

The statistics, compiled by the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and released by Commissioner Ellison Greenslade on Wednesday show that police seized 16,056 marijuana plants in 2015, a marked decrease from the 290,336 plants seized in 2014.

The Family Islands had the highest concentration of marijuana plant seizures in 2015 with 8,884 seized. Police seized 7,095 plants in Grand Bahama and just 77 in New Providence, according to the statistics.

The figures also show that police seized 16,009.56 lbs of marijuana in 2015 compared to 20,602.80 lbs seized in 2014. The Family Islands had the highest concentration of marijuana seizures with 12,288.25 lbs seized. New Providence came in at a distant second with 3,098.73 lbs seized, and Grand Bahama recorded 622.58 lbs seized.

However, there was an increase in cocaine seizures, with 1,541.49 lbs seized by police in 2015 as opposed to the 927.86 lbs seized in 2014, the statistics showed. The Family Islands recorded the highest concentration of cocaine seizures, with 1,465.82 lbs seized. Grand Bahama recorded 59.25 lbs seized and New Providence saw 16.42 lbs seized.

Police also seized 2.2 lbs of liquid cocaine, the statistics showed.

A total of 195 ecstasy tablets were seized by police in 2015 compared to the 18,168 seized in 2014. Police also seized .15 lbs of hashish in 2015, according to the statistics.

Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), a combined US Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Bahamas government partnership, saw a total of 18 successful drug seizures, 10 of which involved marijuana seizures totalling 11,106 lbs with 32 persons arrested and charged.

Five cases involved marijuana fields and seizures of 15,845 marijuana plants.

The remaining three cases involved cocaine seizures totalling 1,465.13 lbs and six persons arrested and charged.

A total of 1,488 persons were arrested for drug related offences in 2015, surpassing the 1,308 arrests recorded in 2014. Of that number, 107 persons were arrested for cocaine - 55 for possession of cocaine and 52 for possession with intent to supply cocaine - according to the statistics.

Of 2015’s drug arrests, 1,329 were arrested for marijuana; 881 for possession of marijuana, 437 for possession with intent to supply marijuana, and 11 for cultivation of marijuana plants.

Four persons were arrested for possession of hashish, and 48 persons were arrested and questioned in reference to dangerous drugs, according to the statistics.

The majority of persons arrested for drug related offences were in New Providence, which saw 1,044 arrests in 2015. Grand Bahama and the Family Islands recorded 247 and 197 drug arrests respectively.

A total of 1,200 persons were charged with drug related offences in 2015, 844 of which were adults in New Providence. The Family Islands and Grand Bahama saw 176 and 153 adults charged respectively.

Nineteen juveniles were also charged for drug related offences in New Providence in 2015, according to the statistics. Grand Bahama and the Family Islands each saw four juveniles charged for such offences.

Regarding control of money laundering, police also received 52 suspicious transaction reports for investigation, according to the statistics. Six new proceeds of crime – cash seizure cases – were investigated with a total of $148,962. Five proceeds of crime cases were placed before the courts, which totalled $113,906.

One attempted exportation case was placed before the court, which totalled $13,191.

During 2015, a number of cases were completed before the court representing cases from 2015 and previous years with a total of $181,764 forfeited to the Crown, which represents proceeds of crime and attempted exportation cases, the statistics showed.