Cruise ships are the biggest source of smuggled drugs, MPs were told yesterday. Ship passengers are responsible for about four times as many drug imports as air travellers, the Finance Minister revealed.

Couriers hid narcotics in specially-marked garbage bags taken off the ship.

Bermuda stopped about 20 percent of smuggled drugs, the Hon. David Saul said.

But he promised new high-tech weapons for the war against smugglers.

And he said Customs had cracked a method used by drug couriers to get through the Airport.

It was known that couriers often flew to the Island without drugs and accused Customs of harassment.

They hoped that next time, when they did bring drugs, they would be waved through.

Dr. Saul said new equipment on the way included: Drug-testing equipment to see if air passengers had swallowed drugs; Breathing gear, worth $10,000, that would protect Customs offices when they had to search small spaces; More X-ray machinery to check bags.

Opposition finance spokesman Mr. Eugene Cox voiced concern over "demeaning'' searches at the Airport, which could upset Bermudians and tourists, especially first-time visitors.

But Dr. Saul pointed out techniques used by drug smugglers. Couriers were told to fly to Bermuda many times before actually carrying drugs. At first they would act normally.

Later, they would alter their appearance or behaviour and cause a small confrontation with a Customs official.

The third or fourth time they would try to make a big scene, being as obnoxious as possible and maybe alleging racial or sexual bias.

They would try to get coverage in the press and meetings with high-ranking officials -- hopefully collecting their business cards.

They figured that the next time they arrived on the Island, Customs would wave them through to avoid another scene.

Tip-offs from overseas authorities were behind most Customs operations, he said.

Officers acting on a tip-off might stop an air traveller only to find he was on a preparation trip.

In a recent case, said the Minister, a man followed the usual system. He created a major scene, and was reported in the Press.

The next time he came to Bermuda, the six-foot-three man was stopped by a five-foot-one officer. She noticed he had a new crocodile brief case, which smelled of glue when she opened it.

She felt a bump, which turned out to be cocaine.

Dr. Saul did not name the man. But last November, US citizen William Harris was jailed for 10 years after Customs found more than $300,000 worth of cocaine in the false bottom of his suitcase.

He had come to the Island about 13 times before. About a month before his arrest, he made official complaints about being singled out by officers.

The Hon. David Saul.