Lakers' Ayton Detained Briefly on Marijuana Suspicion, Released

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was briefly detained Tuesday at Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas, on suspicion of marijuana possession but was released without charges after authorities determined the substance was not in his possession.

Ayton, a native of the Bahamas, was returning to the United States following the NBA All-Star break when airport officials stopped him for questioning. A search of his belongings turned up no marijuana, and investigators identified a small amount of the substance in someone else's luggage, according to Ayton's attorney, Devard Francis. "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 cooperated fully with the authorities and was allowed to continue his travel to Los Angeles shortly after the incident.

Marijuana remains illegal for recreational use in the Bahamas, though the country has begun exploring legalization for medical and religious purposes. The NBA removed marijuana from its list of banned substances under the most recent collective bargaining agreement,...