corruption

Two senior Bahamian officers and eleven other men accused of transporting narcotics to the United States could face life in US prison if convicted.

Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor Damian Williams, known for his aggressive investigations which resulted in a string of high-profile indictments and convictions, brought the charges against the two senior Bahamian officers and eleven other men which include two Colombian nationals, accused of conspiracy to transport narcotics from Colombia to the Bahamas and into the United States.

Williams said, “Today’s charges should serve as yet another powerful wake-up call to corrupt officials everywhere—we will not rest until you are held accountable for your role in the drug trade that is poisoning this country and our community.”

Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis, 51; Sergeant Prince Symonette, 52; Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker, 56; Riccardo Davis, 59; William Simeon, 52; Theodore Adderley,53; Joshua Scavella, 46; Lorielmo Steele-Pomare, 59, of Colombia; Luis Fernando Orozco-Toro, 58, of Colombia; Davon Rolle, 34; Darren Ferguson, 54; Domonick Delancy, 36, of The Bahamas; and Donald Ferguson 26; are charged with cocaine importation conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; using and carrying firearms during, and possessing firearms in furtherance of, the cocaine-importation conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and conspiring to use and carry firearms during, and possessing firearms in furtherance of, the cocaine-importation conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Williams, the first Black prosecutor to lead the Southern District of New York, secured a fraud conviction against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and a corruption and bribery conviction of former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez. His office is also prosecuting New York City Mayor Eric Adams for bribery, fraud, and campaign finance charges as well as rapper and music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs on charges including sex trafficking.

Williams said of the indictment secured against Bahamian nationals, “As alleged, for years, drug traffickers have smuggled tons of cocaine through The Bahamas with the support and protection of corrupt Bahamian government officials who control airports throughout the country and provide sensitive information about U.S. Coast Guard movements to drug traffickers.

“This indictment is the latest in a series of charges that this Office and the DEA’s Special Operations Division have brought against corrupt government officials around the globe who partner with dangerous cocaine traffickers.”

Williams commended the prosecutors of this Office and partners at the DEA for disrupting “drug-fueled corruption wherever it takes hold.”

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.

In a brief communication to the House of Assembly on Wednesday, following the New York indictment of senior officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Defense Force, Prime Minister Philip Davis said the people responsible will be held accountable in a ‘swift and decisive move’ by his government.

What Prime Minister Davis said

Prime Minister Philip Davis said, “The misconduct of a few must not and will not define The Bahamas.

“Let there be no doubt, the Bahamian people deserve accountability for every act of betrayal committed during this time. The tree will be shaken until every bad apple falls.

“To those who believe they can outsmart the systems of justice and intelligence, let this serve as a clear and stern warning: the days of operating in the shadows are over. You will be found, and you will be held accountable,” Davis said before the House was quickly suspended and Opposition Leader Michael Pintard was denied from speaking.

Why it matters

The Royal Bahamas Police Force, plagued with corrupt allegations was once again hit with damnable allegations when a senior member of its organization Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis, and Sergeant Prince Symonette, along with Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force were three of thirteen men charged in the United States with conspiracy to transport cocaine to the United States from South America, firearms use, and carrying and possession of firearms conspiracy.

Curtis has implicated an unnamed politician, claiming the operation was authorized for $2 million.

The big picture

Curtis is in charge of the Lynden Pindling Airport Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and is accused of accepting bribes from traffickers to facilitate the transportation of cocaine while “providing safe passage for the traffickers and their cocaine loads through the Nassau Airport and elsewhere in the Bahamas.”

Sergeant Prince Symonette of the Royal Bahamas Police Force is accused of working with Curtis and traffickers to transport the drug by air and sea while accepting bribes “for streamlining customs clearance for aircraft,” receiving bribery money of $10,000 as a down payment.

Roker allegedly received $10,000 in bribery money as a down payment to alert traffickers about sensitive operations by the US Coast Guard and OPBAT to avoid capture.

Curtis and Symonette reportedly “planned a trip to the United States to receive approximately $1.5m in US currency, which would represent an advanced payment on an agreed-upon at least approximately 500-kilogram load of cocaine to be imported through The Bahamas into the United States.”

State of play

The indictment labels Bahamian government officials as ‘corrupt,’ which affects the Bahamas reputation and its dealings with the US. Thus, Davis said he will meet with the Charge d’Affaires of the United States Embassy today to discuss the indictment and “reaffirm our government’s commitment to full cooperation in uncovering the truth and dismantling these criminal networks.”

Driving the news

Curtis and Roker were apprehended in Florida but will stand trial in New York.

“The government of The Bahamas will act decisively to ensure that those responsible for these breaches, regardless of rank or position, are held accountable. This betrayal will not go unanswered,” Davis said.

“In light of these serious allegations, I want to assure this House and the Bahamian people that my government will act swiftly and decisively. We will engage with our U.S. partners and assist fully in this investigation.

“The defendants will have their day in court, where the guilt or innocence of each will be established. But we cannot wait – and we will not wait – for the outcomes of court proceedings in the United States.”

Featured Image: Tribune

Contention quickly grew in the House of Assembly today when House Speaker Patricia Deveaux prevented Opposition Leader Michael Pintard from speaking on the indictment of senior officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force expected to stand trial for cocaine importation in a New York trial.

Deveaux contended that Pintard’s letter was dated today (November 27) but was requested to speak at “tomorrow’s sitting,” and was given to her at 9:05 which is not exactly an hour before the House meets.

She said this error warranted her putting a quorum on the floor and asking ten parliamentarians to stand in support of Pintard’s presentation.

Pintard insisted that in addition to the letter, he spoke to the clerk for permission to speak on Wednesday morning after Prime Minister Davis’ speech and had given the letter more than one hour before the House met.

Pintard said he should be granted permission due to “the matter of gravity” but Prime Minister Philip Davis said the arrest of the three officers in the United States, was “not necessarily a matter of public importance.”

However, Pintard noted that Davis had already noted the significance of the matter when he issued a statement notifying the public that he intended to address the matter in the House. “If it is important to him it can be no less important to us to have an opportunity to address the issue,” Pintard said.

Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis, Sergeant Prince Symonette and Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker are three of thirteen men charged with transporting cocaine to the United States from South America. Curtis is in charge of the Lynden Pindling Airport Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and stands accused of accepting bribes from traffickers to facilitate the transportation of cocaine while “providing safe passage for the traffickers and their cocaine loads through the Nassau Airport and elsewhere in the Bahamas.”
Read more| Damning evidence

Sergeant Prince Symonette of the Royal Bahamas Police Force is accused of working with Curtis and traffickers to transport the drug by air and sea while accepting bribes “for streamlining customs clearance for aircraft,” receiving bribery money of $10,000 as a down payment, while Roker of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force allegedly received $10,000 in bribery money as a down payment to alert traffickers about sensitive operations by the US Coast Guard and OPBAT.

Curtis and Symonette “planned a trip to the United States to receive approximately $1.5m in US currency, which would represent an advanced payment on an agreed-upon at least approximately 500-kilogram load of cocaine to be imported through The Bahamas into the United States,” the indictment read.

After Davis spoke on the matter involving the indictment, Pintard attempted to speak on the matter too, but was shut down. St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright defending Pintard said, “Madam Speaker it is wrong what you are intending to do,” as East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson joined and shouted, “You trying to silence him. It is wrong. It is absolutely wrong.”

Speaker Deaveaux then quickly suspended the House until December 4.

Featured picture credit: The Tribune

In a significant development, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has stepped into a high-profile police corruption investigation in the Bahamas, a case that has gripped the nation since voice notes allegedly detailing corrupt practices surfaced in July, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander confirmed.

As reported by the Tribune, the FBI’s involvement adds another layer to the probe initially expected to be overseen by senior members from the United Kingdom National Crime Agency.

Why this matters

It touches on the integrity of law enforcement agencies and the safety of citizens. The leaked voice notes suggest a type of exchange involving high-ranking officials and alleged criminals; and have been linked to a major crime—the $1.5 million airport bank car heist last November.

The families of the individuals who have been killed, and implicated in the voice notes, have come forward with narratives. Michael Fox Sr. revealed that his son, one of the suspects in the heist, entrusted him with the voice notes, instructing its release if anything happened to him. Similarly, Sandra Smith, mother of the other suspect, claimed her son made her aware of the recordings.

The big picture

Besides corruption, this case is a test for the justice system’s ability to police its own and maintain public trust. With international agencies now involved, the outcome of this investigation could impact the fight against corruption.

What Commissioner Fernander says

Commissioner Fernander has been vocal about the investigation’s progress, emphasizing the role of the Security and Intelligence Branch (SIB) and the oversight by the Police Complaints Inspectorate.

However, last week, he advised the police would no longer comment on the matter as it’s being investigated.

“It is announced for general public information that, upon advice and in order not to compromise the investigation into the voice notes with regard to the former Head of the Criminal Investigations Department, there will be no further public statements about the investigation until the investigation is complete, except to confirm from time to time that the investigation is still ongoing.

“The public is assured that the investigation is proceeding with integrity and dispatch.”