Former Senior Police Officer in The Bahamas Found Guilty of Drug Related Charges

NASSAU, Bahamas - A former senior police officer is due to be sentenced on February 25 after he was found guilty of 10 counts regarding the seizure of 72 kilos of cocaine and 15 kilos of marijuana on June 7, 2022.

Sonny Miller (File Photo)Former assistant Superintendent of police (ASP),  Sonny Miller, broke down in tears after being convicted on Thursday of smuggling US$1.4m worth of cocaine and US$34,000 worth of marijuana into Acklins in 2022.

Miller was convicted of possession of marijuana and cocaine with intent to supply, conspiracy to possess drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to import drugs with intent to supply, drug importation and abetment to import drugs.

Miller, 47, a former chairman of the  Police Staff Association (PSA) appeared before acting Assistant Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville, who will hear sentencing arguments next month.

The court heard that Miller was the officer in charge of Acklins, Crooked Island and Long Cay when the prosecution said he assisted two Colombians in bringing the drugs into the country.

The Colombians, Cristhian Aristizabal and Cristhian Aragon, testified as cooperating witnesses after they took a plea deal and were give a five-year jail sentence in 2023.

They told the court that they left Venezuela with 400 kilos of cocaine and 15 kilos of marijuana, and after landing at the airport in Acklins, a man pulled up in a truck and handed them a phone.

After speaking to the person on the phone, they got the impression that a policeman would assist them. After the man in the truck left, a tall man with a big-belly wearing civilian clothing arrived in a police Jeep.

They testified that the man assisted them in offloading the drugs and opened the trunk of the Jeep and its doors. They said the man even provided a metal tub to put the drugs.

But his countenance changed after they heard a helicopter approaching.

The men said Miller tossed the drugs out of the police vehicle, pulled a gun on them, forced them to lie on the ground and fired several shots, and told them they were under arrest.

He then motioned to the helicopter to approach. Video footage from the helicopter appeared to corroborate their version of events.

But Miller, denied the allegations saying that he encountered his co-accused unloading drugs from the nose of a plane.

He testified that he approached the men tactfully after exiting a marked police vehicle and said one of them, who spoke English, asked where he could get a room.

Miller said he requested backup and drew his firearm to assist with the arrest after hearing a helicopter approaching. He claimed he was excited about the seizure, took photographs of the arrest and was congratulated a senior police officer prior to his own arrest.

Miller testified that days later his home was searched and he was arrested. He said during the search he cursed at two white American drug officers who told his arresting officer that Miller was going to lie to them, adding that he did not recognise them as local officers.

He further claimed that during a six-hour interrogation in New Providence on June 10, 2022, he was denied food and access to his medication, and later required medical attention.

Miller told the court that he would not wish the experience on anyone, held no malice and maintained that he was only performing his duties.

During cross-examination, Miller denied smuggling drugs or attempting to cover up his actions by closing vehicle doors or pulling a gun on his co-accused.

Defence attorney Bjorn Ferguson argued that the prosecution was attempting to “ride a parade of inferences to a conviction”, alleging the case against his client had been fabricated.

But in delivering the verdict, Magistrate Serville said video evidence showed Miller’s vehicle leaving and returning to the scene multiple times, and showed that the police vehicle’s door and rear hatch were open. A silver tin was also visible inside the vehicle near the door.

The magistrate rejected Miller’s account as implausible and accepted the evidence of the Colombian nationals and other officers.

Miller was informed of his right to appeal within seven days of sentencing.