win the war against drugs.

Yesterday the Police Service released its latest figures for drug seizures and arrests over the first three months of this year.

They showed arrests increased, the amount of drugs seized increased and more couriers were caught.

Last night, Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness congratulated the Police and called on the Country to get behind its officers in the fight against drugs.

"I think the figures demonstrate that the effort put in by the Police is beginning to work and I am hopeful that there is more to come.

"I want to congratulate the Police Service and I think that the entire Country should join me in those congratulations and get behind the Police to help them even more,'' he added.

Yesterday as well as releasing the number of arrests and seizures, Police also released the weight of drugs confiscated.

According to the Police, 31.38 kilograms of cannabis was seized in the first three months of this year compared to 12.86 kilograms over the same period in 1996.

More than 268 grams of cannabis resin was seized -- up from just 18.03 grams in the first quarter of 1996.

Police found 60 cannabis plants in the first three months of this year compared to 117 in 1996.

The amount of freebase cocaine found almost doubled to 22.67 grams from 13.09 grams in the first three months of 1996 and the amount of diamorphine, or heroin, seized also almost doubled.

Police seized 89.96 grams of heroin in the first quarter of 1996 and 152.57 grams in the same period this year.

Just over 131 grams of cocaine was also seized compared to 1,590.34 grams in the first quarter of 1996 although that figure was distorted by one haul of 1,003 grams found in an aircraft toilet.

Government scientists have not finished their analysis of all the drugs seized over the first three months of 1997 and the real figure could be higher.

No total value for the drugs seized was given by Police in the statistics.

The figures also show that Police arrested 118 people in connection with drugs in the first three months of this year, compared to 108 over the same time last year.

Between January and March there were 136 drug-related seizures, but figures for the same time last year were not available yesterday.

Of the seizures, 26 came through various ports of entry and the rest took place in parts of Bermuda.

The most popular route for drugs was through the Airport with packages hidden at the buildings after they had been imported, people packing drugs on their body and people swallowing drugs.

There were 17 seizures at the Airport, five at courier services, one at the air mail facility, two at the cargo shed and one at Hamilton Dock.

Of the 136 seizures, Police said 23 were classed as "major'' and led to 17 arrests compared to 26 "major'' seizures and 14 arrests over the first three months of last year. It is not known how a "major'' seizure is classified.

Police say there were also a higher number of drug couriers intercepted at the Airport and on Bermuda's streets over the first three months of 1997 due to "intelligence-driven targeting'' of importers and distributors, although no figures were available yesterday.

CRIME CRM