Arrests of people suspected of drugs offences and seizures of narcotics increased dramatically last year.

Figures released by Bermuda Police Service yesterday showed total arrests rose by 19 percent to 496 last year, compared to 2000 - as narcotics seizures, in all categories of drugs except cannabis, increased by 12 percent to 853.

The haul of narcotics at the airport jumped by 55 percent to 48 incidents.

Detectives also improved the number of seizures at the airmail facility from 11 to 14, and on the street from 389 to 433.

The number of females arrested for drugs offences almost doubled from 28 in 2000 to 54 last year, while the number of males arrested was up 14 percent to 442.

A Police statement said all drugs seized, including cocaine, heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis resin, plants and methamphetamines increased on the previous year. It added that cannabis seizures were down.

A crackdown on residents wanted on warrants is reflected in the figures, which show 30 people were arrested by the Police Support Unit (PSU) in December for outstanding warrants, and 484 were picked up during the year - by far the highest arrest category for the PSU in 2001.

The PSU also picked up 88 people for drug possession during the year, 17 for obstruction under the Misuse of Drugs Act, ten for possession of drug equipment, 38 for drinking in the street, 15 for impaired driving, 25 for indecent acts and 21 illegal immigrants.

Other arrests included ten for threatening behaviour, five for disqualified driving, three for offensive weapons, 19 for offensive words, three for assaulting Police, six for violently resisting arrest, one for begging, and one for perverting the course of justice.

The biggest activity was drug seizures (189), followed by disturbances (53), domestic reports (13), annoying persons (12), and loud music (six).

Police deployed regular PSU units over the weekend in December to clamp down on disturbances, especially outside night clubs in Hamilton, and it proved to be a good decision.

PSU units responded to 28 disturbances in December compared to 25 for the entire previous 11 months.

A plain clothes PSU clampdown in the city of Hamilton on December 19 and 20 resulted in ten people being arrested for drinking in the street.

Weights of drugs seized are to be made available in the near future.

The figures were released after Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith reported last year's crime figures were the second lowest in six years.

Although crime rose on the previous year by 8.3 percent, police pointed to the increased use of heroin as a link to the rise in certain crimes, such as housebreaking, stealing from unattended vehicles, and removal of cars, motorcycles and auxiliary cycles.