The Bahamas and Transshipment Crime
Podcast: History of the Caribbeans | Exploring Resilience and CulturePublished On: Thu Feb 05 2026
Description: How the Bahamas became the billion-dollar bridge for the Medellin Cartel. Discover the gritty history of Caribbean transshipment crime. In this long-form documentary episode of The History of the Caribbean, we go inside the era of the "Sovereign Blindfold." Between the 1970s and 1990s, the quiet cays of the Bahamas were transformed from fishing villages into high-tech hubs for international smuggling. We explore the rise of Carlos Lehder, the total takeover of Norman’s Cay, and the shocking findings of the 1984 Commission of Inquiry that exposed corruption at the highest levels of power. This isn't just a story of drugs—it's a deep dive into how a young, independent nation fought to maintain its soul against the gravity of the world's largest criminal enterprises. In this episode, we cover: The Quiet Cays: How geography turned a tropical paradise into a smuggler's labyrinth. The Sovereign Blindfold: The systemic corruption that allowed billion-dollar shadow economies to thrive. The Residual Ghost: The long-term impact of the crack epidemic and the permanent social cost of the transshipment era.
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