On 6 February 2019 a US Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew flying from Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) noticed what smelled like marijuana while patrolling over Andros Island on a joint narcotics patrol.[1][2] The helicopter crew brought US Drug Enforcement Administration agents and officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Drug Enforcement Unit to the site, where they eradicated more than 200,000 marijuana plants.[1][2]

About 460,000 pounds (about 209 tonnes) of marijuana was destroyed in the operation.[1][2] The Coast Guard’s OPBAT director called it another success for the joint counter-drug operation run by the United States, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands against smugglers moving through the islands.[1]