By: Staff Writer
November 29, 2024
The Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Chester Cooper, along with Minister for National Security, Wayne Munroe have both denied their involvement with several law enforcement officers in custody for suspected drug trafficking in the US.
Cooper, telling media earlier this week, that he was “absolutely not” involved in the US indictment of Bahamian law enforcement officials in a scheme to facilitate cocaine shipments from The Bahamas to the United States for $2M.
Munroe, who was travelling out of country to St Kitts, said he is not the “high-ranking politician” who was allegedly expected to authorize Bahamian law enforcement officials to facilitate a cocaine trafficking scheme to the US either.
Their denials comes as the result of the arrest of a senior police officer and a senior Royal Bahamas Defense Force officer who have been arrested in Florida and charged with conspiracy to import cocaine, possession and use of firearms and firearms conspiracy.
Curtis is cited in the indictment saying that a $2m bribe can be paid for a high ranking politician in The Bahamas who can facilitate the drug shipments.
Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis and Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker will be taken to federal courts in New York for trial.
A third man, Sgt Prince Albert Symonette, a pensioner of the police force, has also been named in the indictment and has been suspended from duty immediately.
Other Bahamians have also been named in the indictment, said Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander.
Prime Minister Philip Davis, vowing in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, to deal with the high level corruption allegations detailed in a US federal indictment and that it “strikes at the core of who we are as a nation” and vowed swift and decisive action during his address to Parliament this morning.
Among promising new legislation, and a series of meetings with high-ranking officials, Davis stopped short of announcing any resignations or a commission of inquiry.
“This betrayal will not go unanswered,” Davis said. “Everything is on the table. We will have change, we will have reform, and we will have action.”
Davis said the government first learned of the allegations yesterday, which include claims that senior law enforcement officials facilitated cocaine trafficking to the United States. He called the indictment a severe breach of national security that threatens both the safety of Bahamians and the country’s international reputation.