making a number of street drug seizures in a 15-minute period on Thursday afternoon.

The Service said the operation was not even aimed at hitting the worst area of the Island for drugs.

Random patrols of the Police Task Force picked up crack and cannabis packages at 42nd Street, Curving Avenue and Court Street.

Police spokeswoman Evelyn James Barnett said: "We see these things all the time. This was just a random area.

"We didn't target it as a particularly bad area. There are hot spots all over the Island.

"Drug dealing is widespread, it really is. It's on a large scale and I am sure we are only skimming the surface.'' There were no arrests made during Thursday's swoop, she continued.

"You can't actually arrest somebody under the Misuse of Drugs Act unless you actually find it on their person,'' she said.

"Sometimes it's stashed, sometimes they see us coming and they move away from the area and leave the drugs there and the dogs find them.

"At least we're able to take drugs off the street and mess up somebody's take for the day or that hour but it's not linked to arrests because nobody is going to own up to it.

"In this particular type of war every little bit helps.'' Mrs. James Barnett said the drugs fight was boosted by extra street officers.

"A Task Force of six to eight officers are now deployed with Narcotics so they can do these kinds of sweeps and keep the pressure on.'' DRUGS DGS