Stretched Police expect drug suppliers will re-double their efforts this season after recent set-backs.

Drug seizures have gone down in the last three years from $44 million in 2002, about $20 million in 2003 to around $13 million in 2004 which Police see as a sign of success. Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith told The Royal Gazette: “In 2002 and 2003 there were some very significant seizures which led to the break-up of drug trafficking rings.

“We firmly believe those rings were disrupted by 2004. And we firmly believe the drug trafficking rings - if they haven't already - will be making determined efforts to re-establish routes to attempt to get drugs in.”

The narcotics unit has 39 officers including 14 on ports patrol and 17 on street enforcement and five dog handlers. “You only need to look at the figures. There are 150-160 cruise ship visits a season with however many hundreds of thousands of passengers, plus there's hundreds of thousands coming through the airport.

“The officers are stretched, they are having to cover multiple ports at diverse times of the day. The vast majority of those passengers are low risk. We have the responsibility with Customs to interdict illegal drugs. We have to be visible and targeted in our approach and use good intelligence when we have it and also use the canines which are more effective than humans in detecting drugs.”

In 2004 there were more than 950 drug seizures. Mr. Smith said the approach to drugs would be the same as last year with the targeting of individuals following reliable tip-offs.

He said established routes included heroin via the British Airways flight, cannabis and cocaine from the east coast of US and cannabis from the Jamaican and eastern Caribbean via yachts sailing direct to Bermuda.

“There's no doubt there are very established, very organised contacts on the east coast in particular New Jersey and in Brooklyn, New York.

“We have also seen individuals with known gang association in the United States involved with drug trafficking rings here in Bermuda.”

He said American gang members had travelled to Bermuda and he said there was a connection with gangs here although he said not every major supplier here had a gang connection and not every Bermuda gang sold drugs.

Over the last three or four years Bermuda officers have been sent to Canada, the US and Caribbean islands to gather information and evidence to link drug traffickers who were either arrested or wanted in Bermuda. “That gives a snapshot of how we are having to operate at two different levels - the international level and the local level to counter drug trafficking. We continue to target those higher up the chain.”

Asked if he was satisfied with the efforts of his force Mr. Smith said it was the Police's responsibility to reduce supply. “As long as there are people in this country who have an appetite for drugs they will continue to be in demand.”

Asked how the drug scene was ran here he said: “There's no one Mr. Big. We are seeing a number of operations. Some with ties with gangs, some not. Some have close connections with criminal elements in the States and Caribbean.”

He said it was too complex to say how many big players ran Bermuda's drug operations. “There are a multitude of individuals and layers. There are many different players who come into a conspiracy and go out.”

Asked if he was satisfied the Narcotics unit was clean, Mr. Smith said: “It is only fair to say that it is public knowledge that there are two officers suspended, both of whom worked in narcotics and it is public knowledge that a number of officers were transferred out as a result of their decision to charge them.”

Six Narcotics officers have been charged with beating up former Dunkley's Dairy employee Michael Madeiros while he was in Police custody in October, 2003.

Mr. Smith said: “If there are vulnerabilities anywhere in service with respect to the conduct officers it's my responsibility to make sure the right example is set, that these cases are fully investigated, that officers are entitled to due process.

“And if, after all that, there is a finding their conduct is either criminal or contrary to our discipline code they will be held accountable.”

Mr. Smith said he was not prepared to discuss the specifics of particular suspended officers.

However The Royal Gazette understands Narcotic officer Clifford Roberts still remains under suspension, despite the Crown withdrawing charges against him, because an investigation is still going on. Another female officer is being investigated over the matter.

Det. Con. Roberts was charged with five drug-related charges going back to 1999, including conspiring to import heroin and cocaine into Bermuda.

But in October the Director of Public Prosecutions stopped the proceedings against Roberts but reserved her right to reopen proceedings within a year.

The Royal Gazette understands a Police investigation into suspended Ch. Insp. Stuart Crockwell following allegations of stealing is nearly over and a file is about to be sent to the Crown. But again Mr. Smith would not comment.

The Royal Gazette also understands an officer accused of downloading child porn from a Police computer has now resigned.

Asked if he was satisfied with the standard of officers joining the force Mr. Smith said the force had more than 560 full-time staff plus 120 reserve police.

“The overwhelming majority of those staff carry out those responsibilities properly and thoroughly.

“They are good people and know the importance of performing ethically in a law enforcement environment.”

Like forces the world over Bermuda's Police service has had officers who have broken the law said Mr. Smith. “Every law enforcement agency has challenges in terms of conduct of staff.”

But Mr. Smith said he would always work make sure the highest standards were maintained.

“The officers understand that but unfortunately some will divert from the path. Some will simply make mistakes.”