expenses worth more than $7,000.

Some senior officers are so angry at the two women officers that they have demanded they be dismissed.

They believe the pair are trying to swindle thousands of dollars of taxpayers' money bvy filing false exepnses claims.

But Collector of Customs Bill LeDrew insists the unnamed pair have not stolen, despite their extravagant expenses claims from a training trip to Canada.

Customs officers The Customs officers' lawyer, Richard Hector, also insisted the officers were entitled to their claim under the Government of Bermuda General Order 860.

The women -- one senior officer and one junior officer -- went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on a drugs search "rummaging'' course in February.

Mr. Hector said they were each given a $3,570 allowance for the 21-day course.

He said they came back with no spare cash.

The two women claimed they each hired a hotel room -- but later admitted they shared a room in Halifax.

Other officers were also puzzled why the expenses claim featured charges for taxis, when transportation was laid on.

And one officer, who asked not to be named, said claims for meals were also exorbitant.

He said an internal investigation was underway to find out exactly why the expenses claims were so high.

He added: "If this happened in the private sector, these two women would be fired. This has caused major rumblings.'' Another irate Customs officer told The Royal Gazette : "These women went training in Canada and came back with false expenses claims.

"We're not talking about a few dollars here and there. We're talking about thousands. People want to know if they really tried to defraud the Government.

"But many high-up officers are trying to sweep the whole thing under the carpet.'' Mr. Hector said the women were entitled to claim up to $170 a day by law.

But a report into the expenses fiasco was filed straight to Finance Department official Tyler Moniz.

The senior Budget officer confirmed to The Royal Gazette that he had received documents but insisted there was no allegation of theft or wrongdoing.

But Mr. LeDrew met the two women concerned and a representative from their union, the Bermuda Public Services Association, on Wednesday.

The meeting came weeks after the expenses inquiry began.

Mr. LeDrew would not reveal the details of the meeting but confirmed a travel claim was being reviewed.

He said no disciplinary action had been taken against the two women.

Mr. LeDrew added: "I'm not going to confirm or deny the information because what's taking place is merely an administrative matter. We are dealing with a routine administrative matter as far as I'm concerned. There is no investigation and it's inappropriate that I comment further.''