Lakers center Deandre Ayton detained, released at Bahamas airport over suspected marijuana possession
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Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was detained and quickly released on Tuesday on suspicion of possessing a small amount of marijuana at Lynden Pindling International Airport in the Bahamas, according to Reuters.
Ayton would have been returning to the United States from his native Bahamas as the All-Star break nears its end.
In an initial report from TMZ, the central division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force claimed Ayton was searched after he was spotted smoking marijuana at the airport. Reuters also reports Ayton was found with the drug, which is still illegal in the Bahamas.
However, his lawyer Devard Francis said the suspected marijuana was actually in someone else's bag and that Ayton was never arrested or charged, via Reuters:
"The investigators saw 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 said.
Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick, is in his first season with the Lakers, who signed him to a two-year, $16.6 million deal. He entered the All-Star break averaging 13.2 points on 67.5% shooting and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game.
