Governor Sir John Vereker yesterday urged Customs officials in Bermuda and the Caribbean to work together to stamp out increasing security threats of the modern world.

Money laundering, counterfeiting, drugs smuggling and terrorism are all a bigger risk because of globalisation, Sir John told a conference of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC).

He called for members to use the group's 29th annual conference — held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess throughout this week — to discuss how to make it harder for criminals to prosper.

"The issues we are addressing here today are of fundamental importance to Bermuda and the islands and countries from which you come," said Sir John.

"The globalisation of financial services, of tourism, of information, has brought huge benefits and huge prosperity to some people and some parts of the region, not least Bermuda.

"That same globalisation has also brought a globalisation of risk and a globalisation of threat."You in this room are now in the front line of the international effort to ensure our communities remain safe and become prosperous in this increasingly threatening world. Together you must increase the costs and risks of operating outside the law."

Deputy Governor Mark Capes had been pencilled in to speak as Sir John was expected to be off the Island. However, the Governor said he wanted to "hijack" the role as soon as he became available himself.

Deputy Premier Paula Cox also spoke of the importance of Customs.

"Without the dedicated and sustained efforts of border control agencies, and in particular Customs administrations, the economic and social stability that we enjoy in Bermuda and take for granted would not be possible," said Ms Cox.

"Most of the Caribbean islands rely on tourism, international business and Customs duty for a large proportion of their national revenues.

"Our relative fragility compared with larger and more diverse economies of more powerful nations means that efficient and effective border control by Customs and other agencies is all the more important to us.

"Even small inefficiencies or a single lapse in security has the capacity to significantly affect or erode our revenue base and adversely impact international travel and trade."

The CCLEC has 38 members, including Bermuda, Caribbean islands, the US, Canada, the UK and Spain.

Yesterday's proceedings featured a series of speeches, including one from Bermuda's Collector of Customs Winniefred Fostine-DeSilva, and a performance from Gombeys.