Bahamas accuses DEA agents of illegal "rogue" operations on its soil

Investing.com -- The Bahamas has accused DEA agents of operating illegally within its territory and brought the matter to the Trump administration last week, according to the country's ambassador to the United States.

Bahamian officials presented their complaint on Friday during a meeting with the US Department of Justice in Washington, said Wendall Jones, the Bahamian ambassador to the US.

The complaint could strain law enforcement cooperation between the two countries as a major US drug trafficking prosecution affects Bahamian politics.

US investigators have indicted more than half a dozen Bahamians over the last 18 months, including senior members of the country's police and defense force. The individuals are accused of participating in an operation to smuggle drugs from South America through The Bahamas to the United States.

Jones said the indictments did not factor into The Bahamas' complaint about alleged illegal DEA operations.

"We made a general complaint of the behavior of rogue DEA agents in The Bahamas who operate without the consent of the government or the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and that is a matter of law, matter of treaty," Jones said in a phone interview.

The Bahamas authorizes seven DEA agents to operate on the island, Jones said. He did not provide an estimate for the number of DEA agents believed to be operating without Bahamian government authorization, but said it has occurred "over the many years."

Jones added that the Trump administration told Bahamian officials it will investigate the matter.

US Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker dismissed the accusation as "fake news," according to The Tribune newspaper.

The Bahamas is located 50 miles from Miami.

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