this year, compared to $6.4 million for 1996, it was revealed yesterday.

Officers have made at least 20 drugs arrests -- nabbing more than 28 kilograms of marijuana, 106 grams of cocaine, and 75 grams of heroin.

The updated figures were given after Minister of Finance Grant Gibbons reported on the work of HM Customs during the Finance section of the Budget debate in the House of Assembly yesterday.

And Dr. Gibbons said: "We are confident that with the methods of interdiction used, results will improve over the next couple of years.

"It would be fair to say the Collector and his officers are taking their jobs seriously.'' He told the House that there were 124 drug seizures in 1996, with 95 arrests resulting.

Of the arrests, 41, nearly half, were judged to be commercial operations by dealers.

A total of 90 kilograms of marijuana was seized, along with nearly 7 kilograms of cocaine and 16 grams of heroin.

In addition, there were eight drug-related currency seizures totalling $60,000 and 84 cases of duty fraud, pulling in $300,000 in penalties and fines.

There were also 90 seizures of contraband, which included guns, porn, counterfeit currency and drug equipment.

Yesterday, Collector of Customs Gerry Ardis confirmed there had been several drugs seizures in the last few days.

"There were a couple of commercial seizures last week -- and the usual dribs and drabs.'' But Mr. Ardis said he and his officers would definitely not be resting on their laurels.

He said that his information was that heroin use -- which fell out of favour after the HIV and AIDS perils of injecting the drug became widely known -- was on the increase.

Mr. Ardis said: "It appears that now people are smoking it and using it in conjunction with cocaine.

"Some people might conclude it's getting more common -- the information we have is that there is increased use in Bermuda which is very unfortunate. But it would be quite wrong of me to come to a conclusion based on drug seizures.

We would like to seize more and more hard drugs like heroin and cocaine -- but it all depends on the luck of the draw.''