Bahamas safety reports

Broadcaster reports jet-ski operator freed of rape charge

Eyewitness News reported in May 2025 that a jet-ski operator had been freed of a rape charge involving a tourist. The accessible source does not provide enough detail to identify the case or explain the legal disposition. It should not be treated as proof of an acquittal, a false allegation, or an outcome in any other report on this site.

Original video: https://vimeo.com/[phone number removed]

Source: Eyewitness News Bahamas · May 2, 2025.

Grand Bahama residents describe alleged housing-ownership fraud

A July 2026 ZNS report features Grand Bahama residents who say they were defrauded in a housing-ownership scheme. The linked report presents their allegations. The source information checked here does not establish a conviction or a finding against a named company. This is a resident-facing complaint, not a tourist excursion report.

Source: The ZNS Network · July 3, 2026.

U.S. prosecutors announce drug-trafficking charges involving Bahamian officials

U.S. prosecutors announced charges against thirteen defendants in November 2024 over an alleged cocaine-importation operation involving Bahamian officials and routes through the islands. The indictment alleged bribery and misuse of official authority. The announcement states that the charges are accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent; it is not a verdict or a claim against every Bahamian official.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice · November 27, 2024.

ABC reports on alleged plot to kill an American husband in Abaco

ABC’s September 2023 coverage examined newly released body-camera footage in a case involving a woman and two men accused of conspiring to kill her estranged husband in the Bahamas. The linked video concerns an alleged plot and criminal charges, not a completed murder or a conviction. Later reporting still described the case as awaiting trial; no verdict is established in this entry.

Source: ABC News · September 2, 2023.

Additional source: https://abcnews.com/US/georgia-mom-accused-plotting-kill-husband-bahamas-set/story?id=[phone number removed]

National Insurance Board warns about fraudulent renewal texts

The National Insurance Board warned about texts falsely telling recipients to renew their smart cards through a link before June 2026. Its director told ZNS the messages were fraudulent, urged recipients not to provide information and advised affected people to contact their financial institution. This is a resident-facing impersonation warning, not an allegation that NIB sent the fraudulent messages.

Source: The ZNS Network · June 8, 2026.

Additional source: https://znsbahamas.com/nib-text-scam-alert/

Former police investigations chief charged in bribery and theft case

ZNS reported in January 2025 that a former police investigations chief, an attorney and a sergeant were charged in a case involving alleged bribery and money from an armored-vehicle heist. The charges were allegations, not convictions. In an August 2026 ruling in the attorney’s case, the court rejected an application to halt the proceedings and allowed disputed recordings to be admitted. That procedural ruling is not a finding of guilt.

Court update: https://courts.bs/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/R.-v.-Bjorn-Ferguson-Application-for-Stay-Ruling.pdf

Source: The ZNS Network · January 8, 2025; court update August 2026.

Additional source: https://znsbahamas.com/former-cdu-chief-charged/

News report covers charge concerning an elderly tourist

Global reported a charge concerning an elderly tourist. No final case outcome was established in this review.

Source: Global News · March 3, 2024.

Two travelers alleged sexual assault during a Grand Bahama shore visit

ABC reported that two American travelers said they were drugged and sexually assaulted during a Grand Bahama stop in February 2024, and that police arrested two staff members. Pirates Cove disputed their account, saying surveillance footage conflicted with the allegations. Inside Edition’s follow-up includes that response. These reports do not establish a conviction.

Source: Eyewitness News ABC7NY · February 8, 2024.

Additional source: https://www.insideedition.com/media/videos/nurse-practitioner-who-helped-bahamas-alleged-assault-victims-speaks-out-85996

Family says they became sick after pork gyros at Acropolis Cafe

A visiting family says they became ill after eating pork gyros at Acropolis Cafe in Nassau. They were unhappy with the meal itself and believed the pork caused their illness. The review does not provide a diagnosis, test results or an official investigation establishing the cause.

The TripAdvisor account, titled “Shocking Disgusting,” was posted December 22, 2021, about a family visit that month. This is a historical customer allegation, not a current food-safety finding. The text was available in the search index; direct access was restricted during this check. The link opens the restaurant’s review listing. Verify the original review before publishing.

Humane societies call for shade, fresh water and inspections at pig attractions

In April 2019, the Bahamas Humane Society and Humane Society of Grand Bahama urged officials to regulate expanding pig-swim attractions. Their concerns included shelter, sun exposure, appropriate food and access to fresh drinking water.

The coverage also discusses a visitor’s allegations about Celebrity Eco Adventures in Freeport. The operator disputed mistreatment and said the pigs were healthy, properly fed and kept onshore overnight. This entry records the groups’ calls for stronger welfare standards, not a separate proven incident or a current inspection finding. The earlier Freeport complaint is already covered elsewhere in this archive.

Canada warns travelers about sexual assault and drink spiking

Canada’s Bahamas travel guidance describes reported sexual assaults near hotels, in rooms, on beaches, on cruise ships and involving jet-ski operators. Some reported incidents involved drugging. The guidance advises caution, avoiding isolated places after dark and being careful about drinks or transportation offered by strangers. These are general travel warnings, not allegations against every hotel, cruise line or excursion provider.

Official Government of Canada guidance checked September 20, 2026. Open the source for current advice.

Free facial ended in a $9,897 purchase and a failed refund dispute

A couple says a short Nassau shopping stop became hours of sales pressure, alcoholic drinks and almost $10,000 in purchases. They later tried to return the products, but the merchant relied on final-sale terms and their card dispute failed. Consumer Rescue reviewed their documents and found no evidence proving drugging or fraud. It also clarified that the purchase included three expensive devices, not just ordinary creams. The couple remained unhappy, but the article did not substantiate their claimed scam.

Source: Consumer Rescue, August 26, 2024, updated July 14, 2025.

Pearl Island guest alleges unwanted sexual touching during excursion

A separate lawsuit described in The Tribune alleges nonconsensual touching by staff in a cabana during a May 2025 excursion. The guest also alleged drugging and distress from witnessing her companion’s severe boating injury. These are allegations in a civil complaint, not a criminal conviction or established finding. The article reports jurisdictional challenges by the island operators in the related injury case.

Source: The Tribune, May 26, 2026.

Passenger lost both legs in propeller incident after Pearl Island excursion

A lawsuit describes a May 12, 2025 excursion ending with a passenger in the water beside a catamaran, where a propeller caused injuries requiring both legs to be amputated. She alleges unsafe alcohol service and that staff directed her to use the sea as a toilet. Pearl Island and Sun Cay sought dismissal of the Florida case on jurisdictional grounds. That filing is not a ruling on what happened or who was responsible.

Source: The Tribune, May 26, 2026. Lawsuit allegations, not established findings.

Bench collapsed before pig excursion reached the island, lawsuit says

A passenger says a boat bench gave way about ten minutes into a Carnival-sold Swimming with the Pigs: Express excursion on March 24, 2025. She alleges that she fell onto the deck and injured her tailbone and spine, and that the boat returned without reaching the pigs. The account comes from a lawsuit filed in March 2026. These are the passenger’s allegations, not a court finding about the boat operator or Carnival.

Source: Cruise Overload’s report on the lawsuit.

Family questions emergency response after fatal Rose Island shark attack

A June 2019 snorkeling trip ended with a visitor being killed by a shark. Her family questioned the emergency response, saying staff did not enter the water to help and that first-aid supplies and treatment were unavailable. Sandy Toes disputed criticism of its response, saying its staff acted swiftly, followed established procedures and took reasonable preventive measures. The linked report presents the family’s allegations and the operator’s position, not a finding of negligence.

Source: Eyewitness News, July 11, 2019.

Grand Bahama pig-tour operator disputed swimming and housing complaints in 2019

Complaints about a Grand Bahama pig attraction focused on animals allegedly being forced to swim and kept in unsuitable housing. In its April 2019 coverage, The Tribune also reported the operator’s denial and its account of veterinary checks. The allegations were disputed, not established findings in that article.

Source: The Tribune.