helm of HM Customs this morning.

She replaces Canadian Bill LeDrew who is leaving Bermuda after three years in the hot seat leading the war against drugs and contraband coming into the Island.

For almost four years Mrs. Fostine-Desilva has been the Collector of Customs (Designate) shadowing Mr. LeDrew and his predecessor Gerry Ardis daily.

Today caps thirty years as a Customs officer and although she admits missing "the enforcement side'' Mrs. Fostine-Desilva said she does not regret deciding to follow in the footsteps of a former Collector, Colin Littleton.

A Graduate of Whitney Institute, Ms Fostine-Desilva holds degrees from the University of Maryland and Webster University.

"When I first joined thirty years ago, I initially just wanted to be a Customs officer,'' she said, speaking from her office at the newly renovated headquarters.

"But as I developed my career, I realised that I wanted to go to the top.

"Colin Littleton inspired me to better and better and yes, I guess you could say I followed in his footsteps,'' she added. "Customs work is very dynamic and as you get nearer to the top it has even more challenges.

"I miss the enforcement side but I love the challenge of taking the department into the new millennium. I think that if you compare Bermuda Customs with other small countries you'll see that we are at the forefront.'' Good hands The newly appointed head of the Police Service Johnathan Smith and HM Customs, Winifred Fostine-Desilva yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on joint operations. Customs officers and Police work together on drug interdiction.