The abduction of the Cooper twins last Sunday was in connection with the theft of a substantial amount of money from an underground gambling den,Police sources have told The Royal Gazette.

And despite a deafening silence from the Police media relations department, it is understood that the authorities now fear the worst after an unsuccessful week-long search.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Police source, who is close to the investigation, said detectives now believe that the bodies of Jahmal and Jahmil Cooper have probably been disposed of at sea. A marine vessel, thought to be a fishing boat, is now being examined by forensic experts.

Investigators believe that the brothers, 20, were taken by jeep to a house in Devonshire where they were tortured and beaten with baseball bats, resulting in life-threatening injuries. Blood was found splattered throughout the room in which they were held, including on the walls and ceiling, sources said.

Despite repeated requests for information over the last three days, a Police spokesman would only say last night that the investigation was continuing and numerous lines of enquiry were being pursued.

"It would be irresponsible of us to openly discuss our investigative matters," a Police statement released yesterday said.

Meanwhile, no explanation has yet been given as to how arsonists managed to gain access to a crime scene on Crown Hill Lane, Devonshire, without being detected on Thursday night.

What has been made clear by Police sources, however, is that the two officers charged with guarding the residence that night were extremely inexperienced and had only been policing Bermuda's streets for a matter of months.

Police again refused to explain yesterday why such junior officers were employed to safeguard what is an extremely important area of the broader investigation.

It is also still not known what was used to start the fire or how significant a setback the blaze was to the planned forensic work, which was only a few hours old before the arsonists struck.

A Police Press conference is scheduled for some time today, where it is hoped more information will become available.

In the meantime, Police are still appealing for information from the general public regarding the whereabouts of the twins. Anybody who can assist is asked to call Acting Inspector Jerome Laws on 299-4239 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.