NYC Gazette

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, and Anne Milgram, Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), have announced charges against 13 individuals involved in a cocaine importation conspiracy. The charges involve high-ranking officials from the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and other Bahamian government entities.

Elvis Nathaniel Curtis, a Chief Superintendent in the RBPF, and Darrin Alexander Roker, a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), were arrested in Florida. Lorielmo Steele-Pomare and William Simeon were detained overseas on Monday, while Luis Fernando Orozco-Toro was apprehended yesterday. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.

Damian Williams stated: “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.” He emphasized that these charges are part of ongoing efforts to hold corrupt officials accountable.

Anne Milgram added: “The arrests of corrupt officials, including a leader of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and another government official in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, expose the alarming betrayal of public trust that has enabled tons of cocaine to flow through The Bahamas and into the United States.”

According to allegations in the indictment, since May 2021, drug traffickers have used The Bahamas as a transshipment point for cocaine bound for the U.S., facilitated by corrupt Bahamian officials. These officials allegedly received bribes to protect drug shipments at airports and ports.

Curtis is accused of using his position to facilitate cocaine shipments through Bahamian airports in exchange for bribes. He allegedly accepted $10,000 as a down payment for assisting with a planned 600-kilogram cocaine shipment via Nassau Airport.

Roker is charged with providing sensitive information about U.S. operations to traffickers in exchange for bribes. Other individuals involved include Riccardo Adolphus Davis who purportedly used his influence within Bahamian government circles to authorize trafficking activities.

The DEA has historically worked with RBPF under Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) but some officials reportedly abused this relationship by obstructing law enforcement efforts.

All defendants face serious charges related to cocaine importation conspiracy which carry significant penalties if convicted. The investigation involved multiple DEA offices including those in Nassau, Bogota, Panama City along with assistance from international affairs offices within the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

The prosecution is being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan L. Bodansky, Nicholas S. Bradley, and Juliana N. Murray from the National Security and International Narcotics Unit.

These charges remain allegations until proven otherwise in court proceedings.

For further information or tips related to this case contact: BahamasNarcoTips@dea.gov