ships into local waters and search them if Police or Customs are not present.

The Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) (Bermuda) Amendment was passed in the House of Assembly after MPs discussed allowing a foreign power into local waters.

Dame Lois Browne Evans said the amendment was to bring Bermuda law into accordance with an agreement signed by the UK on behalf of its overseas territories and the US.

She said the original Act did not allow foreign countries to pursue suspected drug runners into local waters and the US and UK agreed to change that.

US Customs and others can pursue the boats and search them even if local authorities are not present, but only if they gain permission or contact them.

Under questioning from Opposition MP John Barrit , Dame Lois said all other aspects of the Act are still in force, especially where the foreign power wishes to remove the boat to its own territory.

"This only gives them power to enter local waters in hot pursuit and search it,'' she said. "As for what ultimately happens to the ship, all other sections of the 1994 Act will remain in place.'' Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said the amendment seemed to be an attempt to bring Bermuda law in accordance with the recent UK White Paper on its colonies.