Norman’s Cay

Notorous Drug Lord Carlos Lehder used Norman’s Cay to smuggle cocaine during the early 70’s. 

The DEA began investigating the activity at Norman’s Cay and organized a task force called Operation Carbe to target Carlos Lehder.  Agents disguised as boaters feigned mechanical breakdowns in the anchorage while other agents set up surveillance from Shroud Cay and from a Coast Guard cutter offshore.  On Sept 14, 1979, a raid by 260 Bahamian police officers netted 33 Germans, Americans, and Colombians.  Lehder was apprehended attempting to flee in a small boat. But a Bahamian official alledgedly warned Lehder’s people of the raid and arrangements were made to have the cay spotless.  Lehder’s inner circle fwere actually on Wax Cay at the time of the raid.   Lehder was uncharged after the smuggler turned over a suitcase that is said to have contained

$250,00.  Lehder’s men were released and back on the Norman’s Cay 48 hours later. The DEA continued to choke off Lehder’s cash flow by arresting his pilots and confiscating his shipments. By 1983 Lehder began living in Columbia as a fugitive and was finally captured by Colombian authorities in 1987.  He was convicted and sentence to life without parole plus 135 years.

Things to see on the island today include an aircraft crash site and Brad Kiting