see also: in September 2006 News Releases:   CBP Seized Heroin Onboard Mayaguez Ferry   The Dominican Republic to Implement Container Security Initiative and Begin Targeting and Pre-Screening Cargo Destined For U.S.   Bahamas to Implement Container Security Initiative and Begin Targeting and Pre-Screening Cargo Destined for United States   Civil Penalties for Agriculture Import Violations to Increase October 1   CBP Border Patrol Arrests Homicide Suspect in Abilene, Texas   Border Patrol Advanced Training to Move to Charleston, S.C.   National Guard Spots Attempted Vehicle Drive-through ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Miami, FL – U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine together with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos today announced the interdiction of a white Midnight Express “go fast” vessel and the seizure of approximately 49 bales of marijuana, more than 2,300 pounds, off the Sandy Point area in Abaco Island.

On Sept. 7, 2006, at approximately 7:30 p.m., CBP Air launched a High Endurance Tracker aircraft to search the area between the southern tip of Abaco Island and Grand Bahama Island after agents received information about a load of narcotics being delivered to Grand Bahama Island or possibly to the United States.

After an hour-long search, air interdiction agents learned that the Midnight Express developed mechanical problems and might be returning to the Sandy Point area of Abaco Island to transfer the suspected load of narcotics to two smaller vessels.

Within 45 minutes, the agents flying the CBP aircraft observed a larger vessel and two smaller vessels pull up to a dock at Sandy Point and off load some of the bales on shore and then toss several bales over the side into the water. The two smaller vessels then fled north, and the larger vessel, which was beached, off loaded several more bales.

Agents observed the smugglers throw over several bales of contraband as they continued fleeing north. The CBP aircraft coordinated with Bahamian authorities to maintain surveillance of the contraband on the beach and the larger “go fast” tied to the dock.

Authorities launched a U.S. Coast Guard launched an HH-60 helicopter and recovered 49 bales of what appeared to be marijuana from the location where the two smaller suspect vessels beached before fleeing. The CBP aircraft maintained control of the scene while the USCG HH-60 recovered the contraband.

The search continued into the daylight hours and it was expected that the current count of 49 bales would rise. Agents turned over the seized contraband to the Bahamian Police. No arrests have been made at this time.

Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, made up of personnel from CBP, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, Bahamian authorities, Turks and Caicos authorities, is a joint interagency effort to combat drug smuggling in the Caribbean.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.