THE BARBADOS DEFENCE FORCE (BDF) continues to play a major role in drug interdiction at sea.
At the BDF’s 38th anniversary parade and sunset ceremony held at St Ann’s Fort yesterday, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs Adriel Brathwaite said soldiers had assisted in the seizure of $36 million in illegal drugs.
Brathwaite said the relevance of the BDF had been questioned over time as there had been no perceived threats to the national security of the island, but over the past two years, the BDF, through its maritime arm, the Barbados Coast Guard, and the land forces of the Barbados Regiment, had conducted or assisted the civil powers in various counter-narcotics operations.
Those operations netted over 11 400 pounds of compressed marijuana, in excess of 28 000 marijuana plants and more than 370 kilograms of cocaine with a combined street value of $36 million. In addition, 17 vessels were seized and 51 persons apprehended. (LK)
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