Thursday, September 24, 2026
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Davis administration has complained to the United States that undercover US Drug Enforcement Administration agents operated “illegally” in The Bahamas, drawing a blistering rebuke from US Ambassador Herschel Walker, who dismissed the accusation as “fake news” and publicly questioned why Bahamian officials were concerned that the United States “helped to arrest a known drug trafficker”.
The extraordinary exchange deepens the political fallout from the US prosecution of Jonathan “Player” Gardiner and others, which has already raised unanswered questions about Gardiner’s political connections and allegations that undercover DEA operatives met an unnamed Bahamian politician inside Parliament to discuss facilitating a cocaine transhipment operation.
On Tuesday, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States Wendall Jones confirmed that a Bahamian delegation took its concerns directly to the US Justice Department, meeting acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Skaret and other officials over what the government believes were ‘rogue’ DEA operators on Bahamian soil.
The meeting included Assistant Commissioner of Police for Security and Intelligence Dwight Adderley and National Intelligence Agency Director Anthony Ferguson. The Tribune reached out to Mr Jones after Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell posted photographs of the September 18 meeting on Facebook.
Mr Jones accused undercover US agents of operating outside treaties and longstanding arrangements governing law enforcement cooperation between the two countries.
“The same way a police officer is not allowed to go into the US to arrest someone or something such,” Mr Jones said, “by the same token, the DEA agent is not allowed to do so in The Bahamas unless they have the permission of the government of The Bahamas. That is the complaint.”
Mr Walker’s sharp response appeared to contradict Mr Jones’ claim that “US authorities have conceded that (DEA agents) did not have permission” to operate in the country.
“Meanwhile,” Mr Walker said, “Bahamian officials are concerned that the United States helped to arrest a known drug trafficker?”
He urged the Davis administration to “do the hard work” of combating corruption and continue working with the United States to stop the illicit flow of drugs through the region.
He highlighted Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ 2024 commitment to transparency and fighting corruption, urging the government to stay focused on that pledge.
“I am here to work together and help protect both our nations from the scourge of narcotics trafficking,” he said.
The confrontation comes after US court filings in the Southern District of New York revealed details of a three-year undercover DEA investigation in The Bahamas connected to Gardiner.
The affidavits suggested US investigators kept the Bahamian government and local law enforcement in the dark about parts of the investigation, which relied heavily on undercover “co-operating sources” operating in The Bahamas.
Gardiner, a convicted cocaine smuggler, is due to stand trial in New York in March alongside former police chief superintendent Elvis Curtis, William Simeon and others. Former Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer Darrin Alexander Roker is so far the only defendant to admit his role in the alleged conspiracy.
US court filings alleged that undercover DEA agents posing as members of a drug cartel met an unnamed Bahamian politician inside Parliament in October 2024 to discuss a proposed cocaine transhipment operation through The Bahamas.
The politician is the same unnamed figure referred to in a November 2024 indictment issued by the Southern District of New York. The politician’s name was also written on a cross-body bag attached to Gardiner during the May 12 Election Day plane crash.
US investigators alleged that the politician was willing to assist the proposed operation in exchange for financial benefits.
While those allegations have raised questions about Gardiner’s political connections with the Progressive Liberal Party, Mr Jones said the Justice Department meeting did not address the criminal prosecution itself, but aspects of the investigation that Bahamian officials found troubling.
Mr Jones said officials believed unauthorised operations by US agents had been occurring for some time and wanted Washington to investigate.
“We just wanted to make it very clear that they have been operating against the laws of our country,” he said. “And we just wanted the US authorities to be aware of it and to investigate it so that it doesn’t happen in the future.”
“In order for a DEA agent to operate in The Bahamas,” he said, “it must do so with the permission of the Bahamas government or the Royal Bahamas police force.
“That is a matter of law. That is a matter of treaty. That is a matter of an agreement between the two countries and that agreement goes back to the early 1980s.”
Mr Jones rejected the suggestion that the undercover operation showed US authorities lacked confidence in the Bahamian government.
He pointed to years of cooperation between the DEA and Royal Bahamas Police Force, including Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos, and said, “it’s not a question of lack of confidence.”
“We have seen a number of arrests of people trafficking drugs through The Bahamas, and so there’s been a reduction really over the years in the amount of drugs coming out of South America through Bahamian waters.”
Mr Walker likewise said arrests and convictions of drug traffickers who violate Bahamian and US laws demonstrate the countries’ shared commitment to keeping both nations safe.
He said US agencies, including the DEA, work with Bahamian authorities under longstanding agreements and cited OBPAT as a model of that cooperation.
Comments
pileit says...
Right now, languishing in New York, are a senior RBPF police officer and RBDF officer, BOTH arms of the Bahamas "law enforcement" and border protection, concerned with them is an as yet unnamed sitting member of parliament, and we're sending delegations up there to try to undermine the legality of the investigation, as if its not BLATANTLY CLEAR why the US cannot share all information with the local representatives? Are you people even serious right now? Reads to me as if they were hoping to paint the undercover op as illegal and thus weaken the court case for their fellow sleazebags. These governments are full of vermin, doesn't say much about us who keep putting them there for $20, rum and fried chicken wrapped in a fresh blue shirt.
Posted 24 September 2026, 7:22 a.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
100%
With all the evidence of our past and present (in US jails as we type) some people think that we actually have this drug trade issue under control. Sadly the meaning of 'Under Control' by our current government means - we control it. WHEREAS 'Under Control' by the average Bahamian means - our police and defense force are trying their best to stop the trade and to seek out the corrupt government who close theirs eyes to reality.
Posted 24 September 2026, 8:54 a.m. Suggest removal
bahamianson says...
So if the bahamas police/politician give up the drug competitors to enrich their particular drug boy/girl , does that mean the bahamian police/politician/s are fighting the drug trade? It may appear so because one drug dealer/s was were sacrificed. The ling and short of it is, you cannot trust our police force/ immigrantion officers/ defense force officers or our invisible (non working) traffic cops. We cannot be trusted . From the history of pur politicians getting under the table contracts to enrich their lovers , families and friends to our force trying to enrich themselves. If I were a DEA agent, I wouldn’t trust us either. Someone needs to put all these people in jail for the sake of all the other hardworking Bahamians.
Posted 24 September 2026, 7:32 a.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Shame. Indeed
.these accusers are not without fault. The Donkeys who beilieve that the Bahamas and it's people are all bad and those from over younder are all good perfect saints should check the records their history speaks for them. Well it is to be expected some folks are just stupid as the hell in which they reside.
Posted 24 September 2026, 8:36 a.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
It is very low and insulting to the Bahamian people. To speak of rum and chicken in blue shirts. BAHAMIANS ARE MUCH BETTRR THAN THAT. in the words of Moses here is a wise and intelligent people.
Posted 24 September 2026, 8:43 a.m. Suggest removal
Dawes says...
Thats right its also yellow and red shirts too
Posted 24 September 2026, 9:20 a.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
Such a Shame. These PLP defenders are not without fault. The Donkeys who believe that the Bahamas and its people are all Good and those from over yonder are all evil should check the records their history speaks for them.
Well it is to be expected some folks are just stupid as the hell in which they reside.
Posted 24 September 2026, 8:49 a.m. Suggest removal
hrysippus says...
Convicted narcotics trafficker revealed in his autobiography that he paid PLP leader Linden Pindling $150,000 cash each month to be allowed to smuggle cocaine to the USA. The Bahamian electorate did not care at all and voted to keep in power for over 25 years. PLP politicians'' corruption is nothing new, and the USA State Department knows it....Sigh.
Posted 24 September 2026, 10:21 a.m. Suggest removal
jackbnimble says...
Clearly, there's something bigger at play here than the arrest of a known drug dealer. The fact that the Bahamian politicians are so hell-bent finding a loophole to get him off is very telling. Some key people stand to go down over this, and it appears they are trying to protect them.
Posted 24 September 2026, 10:47 a.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Can Bahamians do the same to them as they do to Bahamians are we less or just as much. But in spite of all they have done
They still can not name polotìan 1. Does one exist
Or is it their intention to cause one to exist.At the end of it all it is the principal of the matter what say you sickened.
Posted 24 September 2026, 1:27 p.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
I believe one exists. Whether or not they are FNM or PLP is anyone's guess. My hope is that eventually they do release the name but based on the history of intelligence gathering in the US (and other countries) they can hold this information close to their chests for many, many years. Based on their history, this Politician #1 is either not in the highest of offices or they are waiting for bigger foreign fish - most likely a senior drug lord.
Posted 24 September 2026, 1:55 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Note Breathes there the man with soul so dead Who never to himself has said this is my home my native land. The Bahamas. My Jerusalem on earth .not without sin.
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them people over there say they are the greatest in all things..
Posted 24 September 2026, 1:33 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
The Bahamas' vast chain of 2800 out Islands, cays, towns, and settlements navigate a complex balancing act between the two major global powers whilst aiming to protect its economic interests and national sovereignty without getting its coconuts caught up in unwinnable friction—yeah.
Posted 24 September 2026, 1:39 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
Please name politician 1.so that these matters can be settled.
Posted 24 September 2026, 1:43 p.m. Suggest removal
pablojay says...
If they had shared all relevant information with the Bahamas government , most of us would not have known who "player" is, the law officers would still be on the job and this article would not have been written.
Posted 24 September 2026, 3:18 p.m. Suggest removal
screwedbahamian says...
The Bahamian authority could not apprehend the Number Houses cartels because of being on their payroll and instead regularized the criminal industry against the wishes of the Bahamian people. Now we want to believe the the Bahamian Authority will apprehend the wealthy drug Cartels trafficking Illegal drugs through the Bahamas, when a number of High ranking authority's are awaiting trail in America for collecting large amounts of money to facilitate the guaranteed safe passage of large amounts of illegal drugs through the Bahamas to America?. We are witnessing and realizing the results of electing persons with Successful Criminal backgrounds to move forward. Do we want to establish a safe haven for the wealthy South American Illegal Drug Cartels to operate from and to support our economy???
Posted 24 September 2026, 3:19 p.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
It is obvious that our police force are involved in the drug trade so the US investigators certainly would not discuss any investigations with them. And I think it also pretty obvious that certain high ranking officials (most likely a few politicians) are also involved in the drug trade (and other nefarious trades) so AGAIN the US investigators certainly would not discuss any investigation with them either.
Sadly, we are not capable of investigating ourselves (lack of morality and christian values) so our closest neighbor and ally has to do it for us... and then we complain. WE NEED HELP!!!!
Posted 24 September 2026, 3:54 p.m. Suggest removal
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