Two Colombian men were arrested at Lynden Pindling International Airport after they were found in possession of liquid cocaine on Sunday, police said. Their arrests came several days after seven Colombians were arrested at the airport for allegedly possessing the drug. Regarding the latest matter, police said the Colombians were found with five pounds of suspected liquid cocaine.

The men, ages 31 and 24, were picked up in the Bahamas Customs Hall shortly before 4 p.m. after disembarking a commercial airline that flew in from Panama, according to police. "The contraband was found among food items that they were brining in," said Superintendent Samuel Butler, who heads the Drug Enforcement Unit. "It was hidden in a food product container. It was very innovatively concealed. It was among some jam."

Butler said this is the first time he saw drugs concealed that way. "They had various other food products in the travel bag and it was concealed among them," he added. Police said the cocaine has an estimated street value of $32,000. The group of Colombians arrested at the airport last Wednesday had 23 ounces of liquid cocaine, according to police. The four men and three women were arrested after they entered the country from Panama City around 2 p.m. Police said they found the liquid cocaine in condoms inserted into the private parts of two of the women.

The other woman and four men had swallowed it, according to the investigating officer. Butler said police have been keeping a close eye on passengers coming in from Panama for some time now as police have noted a trend as it relates to drug smuggling from that country. "Over the last few days we have come in contact with some nine Colombian nationals who were arrested for being in possession of the drugs," he said.

"We know that they transited through Panama into The Bahamas. "That's definitely a concern for us in law enforcement. But it is nothing new. We've seen that type of trafficking before but it is now reoccurring. "So it's a concern. We are keeping a keen eye on what's gong on in respect to the inbound traffic from South America.

"We will continue to be vigilant in terms of guarding the airport against any importations." Butler appealed to people who may be considering getting into the trafficking business. "We are trying to get the message across not to be used as mules," he said. Butler said people should not be coerced or encouraged to participate in drug trafficking. "It's not worth it," he added.

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