The Bermuda Police Service continued successful safety operations, including drug and firearms-related arrests, throughout 2025, according to the Minister of National Security.

Michael Weeks said that Operation Sentinel, which was conducted between September and December, resulted in 173 arrests and the recovery of four firearms and 50 stolen motorcycles.

He added that police collected about $1.47 million in criminal proceeds, which included jewellery, marine vessels and $230,435 in cash.

Of these, $92,000 in stolen goods were recovered, with as much as $25,000 linked to ATM fraud.

Mr Weeks added: “These achievements, from firearms to drug seizures to serious crime arrests, vulnerable person protect and community partnership, demonstrate the Bermuda Police Service’s unwavering commitment to enforcement, disruption of criminality and community safety.”

Operation Sentinel was started in response to a surge in gun crime, including a daylight double murder in August and the killing of businesswoman Janae Minors in her Court Street business a month later.

Mr Weeks said that “sustained, intelligence-led interdiction operations” targeted drug-trafficking operations, which resulted in the seizure of 246 kilograms worth of drugs.

These drugs, he explained, had a street value of more than $29.5 million and included cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine and carfentanyl.

Customs enforcements at Bermuda’s border points and surrounding waters led to 110 drug seizures, according to the minister.

Mr Weeks said that investigations into drug networks led to 29 arrests, with 11 people formally charged and five people being convicted.

He added that 26 people were charged with possession of drugs with intent to supply and 23 for possession of a bladed article, and more than 600 traffic tickets were issued.

Mr Weeks said that 21 people were arrested for murder and attempted murder in 2025 and that eight firearms overall were recovered.

Police investigated 108 cases involving vulnerable people, such as seniors and children, and identified suspects in 83 cases.

Their Vulnerable Persons Unit managed more than 200 referrals from the DCFS and more than 100 Ageing and Disability referrals.

He added that domestic abuse liaison officers made more than 300 referrals and, as a highlight, police located a missing 15-year-old girl last October after a 33-day search.

Mr Weeks was speaking during a breakdown of his ministry’s budget as part of the Bermuda Budget debate for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

He said police hoped to receive $74.39 million for the 2026-27 budget — a boost of $4.62 million, or 7 per cent, compared with this year.

The majority of that will be held by the Commissioner’s Office, which is set to receive a 3 per cent boost to $56.3 million.

The Corporate Services Division will be boosted by 59 per cent to $10.62 million, the majority coming from human resources to help to pay for overtime, wage increases, professional development and hiring.

The Serious Crime Division would fall from $2.46 million in 2025-26 to $1.91 million in 2026-27. Mr Weeks said this would come from hiring local expertise over overseas consultants.

The Operational Policing Division would also fall from $2.21 million in this year to $1.96 million in the coming year from a drop in staff.

Likewise, the Operational Support Division, which includes court liaisons, garage and workshops, tactical operations and forensic support, would drop slightly by 1 per cent to $3.5 million.

Mr Weeks said tactical operations, which got $157,000 last year, would be untouched, explaining the reductions would come from moving away from external consultants.

The minister added that the violence reduction team “continues to deliver measurable outcomes that contribute to community safety and long-term social stability”.

He said this was achieved through early intervention programmes, school engagement initiatives, workforce development opportunities and crises response services.

Mr Weeks said the National Violence Reduction Strategy continued to operate through its established governance framework, which included a steering committee, an inter-agency gang enforcement team and a multi-agency community response mechanism.

Last year, he said, the ministry’s co-ordinated crises response team was activated to address 36 violent incidents and address 125 support sessions, including 48 family safety interventions.

Mr Weeks added that the “Stop the Violence” campaign had strong visibility and public engagement across multiple digital platforms.

On social media, he said, more than 211,900 views were recorded on Instagram and approximately 7,800 interactions were made with the public about the campaign.

In addition, close to 78,800 views were attained on Facebook while the campaign’s YouTube engagement reached more 47,600, Mr Week explained.

“These results reflect growing public engagement with violence prevention messaging and continued normalisation of conversations around community safety and personal responsibility,” he added.

National Drug Control has been allocated $5.89 million for 2026-27, an increase of $954,000, or 19 per cent, from this fiscal year.

The department has more than $1.15 million budgeted for professional services — more than double the $523,000 it received for this purpose in 2025-026 — and is expected to receive $920,000 in funding through grants and contributions, including $150,000 for the Salvation Army Shelter and $330,000 for Focus Counselling Services.

The Department of Customs and the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service are expected to receive 7 per cent more funding in 2026-27, with allocated budgets of $20.86 million and $19.176 million respectively.

The fire service is expected to spend $494,000 in energy in 2026-27, up 27 per cent from this fiscal year, but 20 per cent less has been budgeted for repair and maintenance.

Defence, which incorporates the Royal Bermuda Regiment and defence services, has been allocated almost $11.25 million in 2026-27, up 15 per cent from this fiscal year.