Customs officers -- even though they had no reason to suspect she was carrying drugs.

The 19-year-old's nightmare ordeal began after she arrived at the Bermuda International Airport on Wednesday night on a flight from New York.

She claims she was taken into an interview room where two Customs officers threatened to strip search her and even take her to hospital for a more thorough examination unless she told them where her drugs were.

The woman, who has no previous convictions, eventually broke down in tears when one officer made references to her late father, who was arrested at the airport six years ago attempting to smuggle drugs into the Island.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, said the officers tried to hide their identities but eventually agreed to release her when she failed to confess to any offence.

"They asked me to go to the area where they search you for stuff and then this customs officer started making threats,'' the woman said. "She was saying that she knew I had drugs on me and that I wouldn't be allowed to leave -- she was trying to force me to admit something that wasn't true.

"Then she started threatening me, saying that she had already sent three people to the hospital to be x-rayed that day and I could be the fourth.

"Then she said that she knew about my father. My voice began wavering and I became really emotional.

"Then they took me into this interrogation room where they said they wanted to strip search me and take me to the hospital. I felt really violated and disrespected. It was like she was getting personal.

"But I wasn't aggressive or anything. I was cooperative, taking out all my lotions and everything in my bag.'' The woman also alleges one of the officers was not wearing any identity and refused to give her badge number.

The terrified passenger was eventually released after about an hour.

"But even then this one woman was still threatening me,'' she said.

"And they were asking me to stop crying, saying they didn't want other people to see me leaving looking really upset.'' The woman said she will now be writing to senior Customs officials to lodge a formal complaint against the officers who dealt with her case.

Last night Collector of Customs Bill LeDrew said he was unwilling to discuss individual incidents and had been unable to speak to the officers involved.

But he confirmed that, if a complaint is made, an internal inquiry will be launched.

"We have very clear policies and procedures in place for conducting personal searches,'' Mr. LeDrew said.

"But my undertstanding is that she was detained for about 20 minutes and after our officers had spoken to her, a decision was made not to do any further examination.

"The general rule is that, if there is a personal search then the officers then have to provide a written report. Also, if there's a complaint or somebody may leave not very happy then the standard practice is that the officers will make a report.'' DRUGS DGS