Illegal drug trade in the Turks and Caicos Islands

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Illegal drug trade in the Turks and Caicos Islands involves trans-shipment of cocaine and marijuana through The Turks and Caicos Islands to the United States.

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Developments

Then Chief Minister Norman Saunders was arrested in March 1985 together with Commerce and Development Minister Stanford Missick. [1] Saunders was alleged by the US Drug Enforcement Administration to have accepted $30,000 from undercover agents to ensure safe passage of drugs by permitting safe stopover refuelling of drug flights from Colombia to the United States. [1] Video evidence showed Saunders accepting $20,000 from an agent. [1]

Saunders was convicted in July 1985 of conspiracy, though he was acquitted of the charge of conspiring to import drugs into the United States (which Missick was also convicted of). [1] He was sentenced to eight years in prison and fined $50,000. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Griffith, Ivelaw L. (1996-7), "Illicit Arms Trafficking, Corruption, and Governance in the Caribbean", Dickinson Journal of International Law, pp495-6.