rocketing year-by-year.

The recently published 1992 Report of the Bermuda Police shows a huge rise in seizures of cocaine, cannabis and cannabis resin.

Matters have not improved in the first 10 months of this year, and much of the crime on the Island remains drug-related, Police said yesterday.

The 1982 report says 60 to 80 percent of offenders claim drugs were the root cause of their involvement in crime.

In 1992 the amount of cocaine seized almost doubled over the previous year to more than 6,500 grams.

The amount of cannabis seized rose five times while cannabis resin seizures increased from 15 grams to 1,007 grams, 100 times more than in 1991.

The increase in seizures has also been a result of good Police work according to the report with officers working on the streets, the Civil Air Terminal and the docks, the report said.

Police have also continued to liaise with forces in the US, Canada, Jamaica and Interpol concerning drug information.

But a lot of concern in the report is being expressed over drug-related crime.

It says: "The scourge of drugs and drug abuse continues to be a major factor in criminal activity in Bermuda.

"In the region of 60-80 percent of offenders claim the drug trade, drug addiction or drug abuse were the root cause of their involvement in crime.'' Crime overall was down in Bermuda especially break-ins which dropped by nine percent on 1991. Overall cases of crime fell from 5,080 to 4,702.

The amount of cases solved fell from 54.76 percent to 53.4 percent last year.

Crime against people increased by 10.7 percent with all types of assault increasing, except for murder. There was only one murder in 1992, compared to three in 1991.

One worrying statistic was the increase in unlawful carnal knowledge cases and indecent assaults on both males and females.

In the report Police Commissioner Mr. Lennett Edwards, who took over midway through 1992, said: "Financial restraints continued during 1992 and resulted in the force being reduced by 17 officers.

"I am pleased to be able to report that there is no evidence that policing efficiency or response time has been adversely affected due to those manpower cuts.''