Police are downplaying the popularity of ecstasy on the streets.

Tomorrow a man faces sentencing for importing 20,000 pills of the drug. But yesterday Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said: “There is no evidence to suggest that ecstasy is the drug of choice in Bermuda.

“The 20,000-plus ecstasy pills represents one seizure that took place in May last year.

“While there is no evidence that ecstasy is considered the drug of choice, any change in the type of drugs that drug dealers are attempting to smuggle into Bermuda is concerning to the Police.”

Recently published statistics reveal $33m in seized drugs last year, an 80 percent increase over the year before, according to Customs officials.

The same report on seizures, made public yesterday, shows $24 million worth of cannabis, more than $7 million in heroin, more than $1 million in heroin, and $380,000 in crack.

While not commenting on the overall numbers, Mr. Caines believes the large ecstasy capture is a product of good Police work, and not necessarily the result of a surge in ecstasy on the street.

He said: “The large seizure of ecstasy represents a concerted effort by Customs and Police to stem the tide of drugs on the island.”

The drug smuggler’s guilty plea means his case will not go to trial, which in some ways, prevents the public from hearing about ecstasy’s demand on the street.

If someone makes an attempt to import 20,000 pills of ecstasy, presumably there is a market for that kind of quantity.

Customs officials and the a Government spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment.