TNAG-1709-FCO40-2384-Hong-Kong-narcotics-offences-and-drug-trafficking-1988 — Page 40

-31-

for drug offenses also is lacking. Statistics prepared by the Bahamian Government earlier this year show that of 107 major drug cases arraigned before the courts in 1986, 84 were still listed as "pending prosecution" when the information was compiled.

In early July 1987, the Bahamian Government designated one of its six magistrate courts as the drug court. This may result in the speedy prosecution of drug trafficking suspects, especially non-Bahamians who in the past have exploited bail procedures to evade subsequent judicial determinations. For example, in 1987, U.S. citizens involved in 16 drug cases have failed to appear for trial and forfeited bail (including one bail for half a million dollars).

Law enforcement cooperation was strained in April when the Bahamian Government incarcerated two DEA confidential informants for two weeks in Fox

Fox Hill Prison. The two were involved in a controlled delivery flight for which the Bahamian Government was not given advance notice because the operation originated from another Caribbean country and

and the plane was only forced to land on Bahamian territory due to a fuel shortage. Several days

days after the

after the arrest, National Security Minister Roker publicly identified the two as "DEA agents, causing some concern for their safety while remaining locked up for another 8 days with criminals.

11

Following additional negotiations, agreement was reached on a final text of a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) on March 6 and signed on August 18. Negotiation of a new extradition treaty is also expected to begin this year. The nearly two-year-old attempt to extradite nine persons remains before the courts. Consequently, the United States has recently secured the services of a London expert in extradition matters who is arguing in Nassau the most prominent of the extradition cases, that case involving Nigel Bowe. Prior to this, the U.S. was represented by the Bahamian Attorney General's office.

The U.S. Embassy has continued its strong focus on assisting indigenous drug

drug awareness efforts in the country. Two Bahamians were sponsored to a month-long USIA Drug Awareness Program which included attendance at the Annual Pride Conference in Atlanta in April. Registration fees were paid for 20 members of the Drug Action Service who also participated in that conference. In May, the Embassy sponsored the trip of Dr. David Allen, the head of the National Drug Council, to an international conference in Honolulu on "mobilizing public action against drug abuse." In a show of public diplomacy, the Ambassador and other Embassy staff participated in a rally sponsored by the Mothers Against Drugs in March.