A drugs ring shipping cannabis to Bermuda in fridges and microwaves has been smashed by Canadian police.

It is understood that members of a drug importation organisation were sending the marijuana to the Island via commercial courier companies.

Ten kilograms of the drug, with a street value of $210,000, as well as a small fridge and a microwave, were seized when officers arrested Rayon Santo and Vinroy Carnakie, both of Mississauga, Ontario, as part of Project Gallito.

The initial stages of the investigation also resulted in the seizure of 45 kilograms of cocaine at Pearson International Airport, Toronto, which was located inside their luggage on flights from the West Indies.

Further investigation showed that couriers were recruited and dispatched by an internationally organised group of individuals who became the focus of the year-long investigation.

Officers from Canadian narcotics task forces had received information that a large amount of cocaine was being imported into Pearson International Airport on a flight from Antigua.

Canada Customs was notified of this information and with their assistance, two large gym bags containing the 46 kilograms of cocaine were seized and investigators believe that these two bags were intended to be removed from the aircraft at Pearson International Airport by employees before the bags went through Customs.

This, and other investigations, discovered that some corrupt airport employees, who have access to secure areas and have knowledge of airport systems, are being used by organised crime groups to facilitate their ventures.

Project Gallito also uncovered a conspiracy to murder a rival drug dealer in Antigua, West Indies - the authorities in the Caribbean were notified and are involved in the continuing investigation.

The arrest of the two men was part of one of three major drug busts by Canadian authorities in recent weeks which have seen more than $35m of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and hash oil taken off the streets.

Dwayne Caines, spokesman for the Bermuda Police, said: "An investigation into this is underway."

Earlier this year six men were charged with conspiring to smuggle $11 million worth of cannabis and $600,000 worth of heroin into the Island after an eight-month joint investigation between the Bermuda Police and the US Drug Enforcement Agency.