case, an official said yesterday.

And there would be less uproar over the case if all the facts were known, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Not only did Ms Ferrari not declare the five valium tablets she was carrying into Bermuda, but she denied they were prescription drugs when a Customs officer found them inside a film canister, the official said.

"I think the circumstances were fairly extraordinary. She didn't declare the drugs, despite the sign in the Airport that says one must. She maintained that they were not prescription drugs when they were found.'' Ms Ferrari, the tabletop, food and wine editor of the 400,000-circulation Bride's magazine based in New York, was caught with the tranquillisers when entering Bermuda for a sales meeting.

She appeared twice in Magistrates' Court before a prescription was produced and the charge of possession of a controlled drug was dismissed on June 23.

The official conceded there was a general feeling in Government the case was mishandled.

"The likelihood of anyone making an impact on the drug situation here with five valium tablets is not terribly great.'' There was a feeling "that even if she was silly enough to conceal the fact that she had them, that maybe it could have been dealt with in another way.'' However, "Customs have rules and regulations and they've got to abide by them. Once having started the process, it is very difficult to stop it.'' The Prosecutor, Police Insp. Peter Duffy, would not confirm or deny the official's story. "I decline to comment on the grounds that it is going to protract the controversy,'' he said.

Ms Ferrari's lawyer, Mr. Robin McMillan, also declined comment. "I can't comment on anonymous statements,'' he said.

Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge has apologised to Ms Ferrari and offered her a complimentary return trip to the Island.

In the House of Assembly on Friday, Mr. Julian Hall MP of the Progressive Labour Party said Ms Ferrari's ordeal was "unbelievable,'' but Bermuda should apologise to others who have been similarly treated.

The Island is overregulated and "I was ashamed during her five-day ordeal to even call myself a Bermudian,'' Mr. Hall said.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness said Customs officers were doing their jobs. However, "this matter should have been resolved as Mr. Woolridge said -- right there on the spot,'' he said.

Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul has also said Customs officers were not to blame. "It was somewhere between Police, Magistrates' Court and the Attorney General,'' Dr. Saul said. "Any one of those three.'' Ms Ferrari could not be reached for comment yesterday.