Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was briefly detained at Lynden Pindling International Airport in the Bahamas on Tuesday after investigators suspected he was in possession of a small amount of marijuana, sources familiar with the situation and Ayton's lawyer said.
Two sources told Reuters that Ayton, who is a native of the Bahamas, had been arrested and detained after marijuana was discovered. Ayton's lawyer, Devard Francis, disputed the characterization that his client was arrested, saying instead that Ayton was briefly detained and released.
Francis said investigators determined that the "actual very small amount of marijuana wasn’t in Deandre’s bag, but they still went through their investigations and he was released expeditiously." Francis added that the marijuana had been in someone else’s bag.
Requests for comment from the Royal Bahamas Police Force and from the Lakers were not immediately answered, according to the information supplied. The matter involves a jurisdiction where the legal status of marijuana differs from many places: although the archipelago has taken steps to allow marijuana for medical and religious purposes, the drug is still illegal in the Bahamas.
Ayton, the former number one overall draft pick, signed a two-year contract to join the Lakers last summer after playing for the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers. The team announced he missed his second consecutive game last Thursday.
The available accounts do not provide additional detail about the identity of the other person whose bag contained the marijuana, nor do they indicate any further legal action taken following Ayton's release. Statements from law enforcement and the Lakers remain outstanding in public records at this time.
Context and immediate facts
The key facts reported are that Ayton was briefly detained at a Bahamian airport on suspicion of possessing a small quantity of marijuana; his lawyer says the substance was not in his bag and that he was released quickly. The Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Lakers had not responded to requests for comment as of the time of reporting. The Bahamas permits limited medical and religious use of marijuana but maintains criminal prohibitions otherwise.
Sources and limitations
The account is based on statements from Ayton's lawyer and two sources described as familiar with the matter. No additional official comment from the police force or the Lakers had been provided. The public record cited here does not include further details about any other individuals involved or about subsequent legal proceedings.