Shipping drugs to Bermuda packed in electrical appliances is the latest trick being employed by Canadian drug dealers, the Royal Gazette has been told.

Ten kilograms of marijuana, 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, at Pearson International Airport, Toronto.

It is understood that members of a drug importation organisation were attempting to send the drug to Bermuda via commercial courier companies - something the Canadian authorities believe is widespread.

"A lot of marijuana is being produced in Canada and we have taken to exporting it in large quantities," explained Detective Sergeant Bill Needles of Toronto Police narcotics department.

"A lot of people legitimately send packages of clothing or equipment to Bermuda, and other islands, using normal courier services.

"But it seems some people have begun to use this as a method of sending packages of marijuana.

"We don't know exactly how long this has been going on for, nor would it be right for me to speculate as to what quantities are being sent to Bermuda.

"But if they can fit $210,000 inside a microwave, then if somebody was sending one of these packages every day, every week, every month, you can work out how much is being sent."

It is understood that although a lot of the marijuana on the Island originated in Jamaica, there are large amounts of Canadian cannabis now circulating Bermuda.

And the Canadian authorities admit that this latest method of importation is proving tough to control.

"It is pretty difficult for us to deal with," admitted Det. Sgt. Needles.

"We can't go in and open packages randomly at this end, so unless we have a tip off or get lucky with the sniffer dogs it is hard to control the volume."

But Police in Bermuda are not convinced of the new Canadian threat.

"We have no information whatsoever to suggest this is the case," said head of Narcotics Superintendent Larry Smith.

"On a recent trip to Canada I saw a lot of greenhouses and it is clear the country is now self-sufficient and doesn't need to bring in as much from the Caribbean.

"But we have no evidence that they are sending drugs to Bermuda.

"If they have got anything on this they should send us some documents."

He revealed that Police had investigated a suggested shipment in January but nothing was found.

He added it was difficult to establish the country of origin of drugs as all incoming packages have to pass through a hub in the United States to get here.