worth of heroin with intent to supply -- just weeks after another customs officer was caught allegedly exporting cocaine to New York.

The bust at a Smith's Parish address on Tuesday netted 118.5 grams of heroin -- which is more than the entire amount of heroin seized in 1998.

Collector of Customs Bill LeDrew was tight-lipped when asked about another one of his staff being charged for serious drugs offences.

He said: "If any employee is arrested it is a concern. I can't say much more -- it's an on-going case.

"But the quantity seized is a large amount. It's bigger than 1998 -- you can draw your own conclusions from that.'' And Mr. LeDrew declined to discuss the outcome of an internal investigation conducted after the arrest of Betty Azzario for the New York incident and he ruled out a further review of his staff after yesterday's charging of 49-year-old Marva Curlita Rabain.

He said: "I would not say we are doing anything in particular.'' He added: "Mrs. Rabain was an assistant customs officer working in the Hamilton long room -- essentially it was a civilian post involving clerical work.'' Mrs. Rabain appeared in court yesterday along with her daughter Takiyah Dzieko Rabain, a 22-year-old dental assistant.

Customs officer on drugs charge They were also charged with possessing 1.73 grammes of marijuana and three packets of Rizzlas intended for use with a controlled drug.

In a packed court room Magistrate Archibald Warner told the tearful pair that they did not have to enter a plea as the charges were indictable offences.

The media pack had been camped outside the court room yesterday after rumours the pair were to be brought to face charges.

Shortly after 4 p.m. they walked from Hamilton Police station to Magistrates' Court Three flanked by family and well wishers.

Throughout the short walk the two wept uncontrollably while supporters also cried during the wait for Mr. Warner to arrive in court.

The pair, who live at Sommersall Road, Smith's, were each released on $20,000 bail with like surety and ordered to surrender travel documents.

They must attend Hamilton Police station every Monday until the next hearing on February 10.

Tuesday's bust comes hard on the heels of several major seizures. In late December Bermuda customs officer Betty Azzario and former Bermudian soccer star Dennis Robinson were arrested on suspicion of importing more than a kilo of cocaine, worth around $375,000 into New York airport.

In the first week of January US teenage drugs mule Amber Davis was caught importing $59,000 worth of cocaine through Bermuda airport -- she was later jailed for three and a half years.

On January 19 Jaha Akilly Mallory was charged with importing drugs with intent to supply in connection with a seizure of $182,000 worth of drugs, including both cocaine and cannabis, at the airport four days earlier.

And on January 20 airport workers Victor Arthur Bean, Maurice Smith and Antowyn Robert Bennett were charged with importing cannabis and handling cannabis with intent to supply in connection with the seizure of 12 pounds of cannabis on January 17.