Three Bahamian drug dealers who were extradited to Florida in September are now awaiting sentencing.
Edson Watson, Nathaniel Knowles, and former policeman Ian Bethel on Friday pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States between June and November 2002.
The men were part of drug gang headed by Austin “Ozzie” Knowles. He ended his fight against extradition in 2018. Knowles was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, less the five years he had spent in custody in The Bahamas and United States.
Authorities brought down the drug trafficking organization through wiretaps and the evidence of accomplices, who became cooperating witnesses.
Bethel worked as a navigator on one of the police vessels assigned to intercept drugs during the investigation into Knowles’ gang.
However, wiretaps revealed that Bethel used his inside information of surveillance activities and patrols to warn Austin Knowles about police activities.
Watson assisted with the delivery of the cocaine into the United States and Nathaniel Knowles was heard arranging the shipments on wiretaps.
Bahamian authorities arrested Watson, Knowles and Bethel in December 2002 on a provisional extradition after a U.S grand jury indicted them.
A full extradition request was made on February 6, 2003.
The were finally extradited after a legal battle of almost 19 years.
