Opposition MPs have called on the PLP to honour its pre-election promise to wage a war on drugs - instead of withdrawing Police from interdiction work.

Shadow Home Affairs spokesman Michael Dunkley slammed the government for their plan to leave interdiction to customs while Police concentrate on nailing street dealers.

He said: "I have real concerns with that - I think the real problem is we have to stop suppliers getting it in to the island.

"I don't think this new strategy will work - interdiction is the most important role - we shouldn't rely on customs to do that job.

"You have to wonder if customs have the equipment and manpower - they will have to go to government and ask for more.'' Collector of Customs Bill LeDrew said it was too early to say what impact the new demarcation of drug roles would have on his department.

But he added: "Whatever happens we will always work with the Police - it is too small an island to have specialist teams.'' Mr. Dunkley said it was time to step up the fight against drugs.

"Drugs are more prevalent - it's the most pressing issue we have - we need more resources to get on top of it,'' he said.

"But even the Police admit the narcotics division is undermanned.

"They only have 23 people to cover the entire island.'' Recently drug counsellors reported street heroin prices have plummeted during the winter when prices usually rise because there are no cruise ships around -- a key route for smugglers.

Mr. Dunkley said he feared the problem would rocket in the summer when the cruise ships came back.

However Mr. LeDrew denied being understaffed. He said: "Virtually every position is filled. We need to make better use of our resources.'' Mr. LeDrew explained that a new $3.5 million computer system coming on stream in September would reduce paperwork and free up officers for interdiction work.

Mr. LeDrew admitted lower heroin prices and a rise in busts could indicate drug importation was rising but he added that lower prices could also indicate that the heroin was less pure.

He added: "The big busts could indicate we are doing a better job or that there's been a huge increase in drug smuggling.'' Opposition Health spokeswoman Kim Young joined Mr. Dunkley's call for more resources to be given to help customs and police fight drugs.

She said: "The PLP promised a war on drugs and that is what we need to deal with this. But it hasn't happened.

Drugs war campaign attacked We need more Police and we need more people to stop the drugs coming off the cruise ships.

"The regiment should be used and money seized from drug dealers should be put straight back into fighting drugs. I think they should place more emphasis on cruise ships.

"We are getting more arrests but on the other hand drugs are more available.

And she said society was paying a high price because of the drug problem. She said: "I hear from parents that the amount of marijuana being smoked by children is incredibly high. "Some people think it's not a big deal but it's not the same as alcohol.

"Alcoholics usually continue to work but marijuana users lack motivation - they can't get to work on time.

And citizens were living in fear of the drug-related crime according to Mrs.

Young. She said: "You find people with closed doors and all shuttered up - we used to live with the doors unlocked and we'd sit out on the porch. Now you don't see that kind of thing.

"People are prisoners in their own homes. When I was back in Australia recently I heard that a lot of people had died in the heatwave because they were all locked up - exactly the same thing could happen here.

"As long as people are looking for money for drugs we all have to live like this - it's affecting everybody's quality of life.'' Michael Dunkley