Bahamian officials have formally raised concerns with the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing some Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents of conducting unauthorized operations on Bahamian soil. The grievance was brought up during a meeting in Washington, D.C., and marks a significant diplomatic issue between the United States and the Bahamas. The dispute could affect how the two countries cooperate on law enforcement matters and may raise questions about the Bahamian government's control over its territory, especially as the U.S. pursues high-profile drug trafficking cases involving Bahamian individuals. Bahamian Ambassador to the U.S., Wendall Jones, emphasized that the issue involves DEA agents operating without the consent of the Bahamian government or the Royal Bahamas Police Force. He described the situation as a matter of law and international agreements between the two nations. The grievance is separate from ongoing U.S. legal actions against more than half a dozen Bahamians, including senior police and defense officials, who are accused of involvement in drug smuggling operations from South America through the Bahamas to the U.S. The DEA has stated that it is committed to working with Bahamian authorities to combat drug trafficking in the region. A spokesperson for the agency said that DEA agents operate under the oversight of the U.S. Chief of Mission, which is responsible for managing U.S. law enforcement activities in the Bahamas. However, the U.S. State Department and the Justice Department have not commented on the allegations. The Bahamian newspaper The Tribune first reported on the grievance, citing U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas, Herschel Walker, who called the accusations "fake news." According to Jones, the Bahamas officially authorizes seven DEA agents to work in the country. However, he noted that unauthorized operations have occurred "over the many years," though he did not specify how many agents might be acting without government approval. The Trump administration reportedly told Bahamian officials it would investigate the claims. This follows similar allegations in April, when Mexican authorities claimed two U.S. agents who died in a crash were operating in Mexico without proper authorization.