laws in the new year.

Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness made the disclosure yesterday saying the measures would target the supply of drugs, which had caused a "massive'' amount of ills in Bermuda.

But he was tight-lipped on what the initiatives were.

He refused to say whether they concerned the Premier's recent controversial "prove your innocence'' comments.

The Hon. Sir John Swan had suggested keeping accused drug dealers locked up until their trials so they could not go straight back into the business and raise money for high-priced lawyers.

"We are talking about lots of things that have to do with crime,'' Mr. Edness said.

"Drugs in our society have created a massive amount of problems.

Government considers the situation that is developing here very serious and all kinds of new initiatives are being looked at to stop it growing any further.'' The measures were "practical and logical'' and would deal with the control and supply of drugs in Bermuda. And "no areas will be left out,'' he said.

Another anti-crime measure suggested recently by a Government MP was Mr.

Trevor Moniz's idea of special "professional'' juries -- such as the ones appointed in the 1970s for the shopping centre murders -- to hear drug smuggling cases.

And backbencher and lawyer Mr. Rick Spurling claimed in Parliament last week that rich drug dealers had been known to bribe juries to win acquittals.

The jury system needed to be looked at, Mr. Spurling said, suggesting beefing up laws to protect jurors from bribes or threats and giving them more guidance.

Government recently increased firearms penalties and implemented a reward system for tips leading to drug and gun convictions.

And its international crime bill was approved by the Senate this week. Mr.

Edness noted the bill would enable Bermuda to deal more effectively with crime on the local front as well.

It extended certain powers concerning the manufacture and supply of drugs on ships and the enforcement here of overseas forfeiture orders for drugs spoils, he said.

While Bermuda's Misuse of Drugs Act and the Drug Suppression Act enabled the seizure of drug dealers' assets, the two laws did not affect third parties.

But The Criminal Justice (International Co-Operation) (Bermuda) Bill 1994 has made it a criminal offence for any third party to handle or moves drug money or equipment.

"So a drug baron caught and charged cannot on remand talk to a spouse or his mates and say, `Look, I've got $3 million, please get it out of Bermuda for me.' If they do that it's a criminal offence. Drug barons will not be able to fleece this particular society.'' During the debate Mr. Edness had said the bill was only one of the steps which Bermuda had been asked to take so that it could combine with other countries in the war against international crime.

Another step Government was asked to take and which it planned on tabling early next year was a bill to extend the arm of the law in dealing with extradition orders, making it possible to extradite in relation to all countries not just the United Kingdom, he said.

"It means people won't be able to get away with committing crimes here and then taking off with their spoils to other countries which Bermuda has no agreement with.'' Mr. Edness said public feedback on tackling crime would be considered and urged residents to offer suggestions to Government.