Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed anti-drug efforts in the Bahamas, focusing on: (1) U.S.-Bahamas drug interdiction operations; (2) the status of other drug control activities; and (3) U.S. anti-drug efforts.
GAO found that: (1) U.S. anti-drug efforts in the Bahamas have evolved from simple bilateral agreements to extensive and costly drug interdiction operations; (2) in 1988, U.S.-supported interdiction operations resulted in the seizure of about 11 tons of cocaine and 51 tons of marijuana in the Bahamas; (3) decentralized program management and planning did not cause conflicts or impair anti-drug efforts in the Bahamas; (4) a new extradition treaty was awaiting ratification; (5) the Bahamas made progress in initiating a unilateral capability to combat drug trafficking and associated problems; (6) radar system limitations and inefficient apprehension helicopters allowed smugglers to avoid detection, but U.S. agencies were extending the air interdiction system in the Bahamas by expanding radar systems and establishing a helicopter base; and (7) the acquisition of additional apprehension equipment would be costly and would not eliminate systems limitations.
