Customs drugbusters have seized $1.1 million worth of narcotics in the first three months of the year.

Investigators have already made 32 separate seizures in 1998, pouncing on most drug finds at the Airport.

Large quantities of cannabis and cocaine have been confiscated inside the Airport's airmail facility, baggage inspection area and air cargo hall.

Pornography and contraband electrical goods -- some hiding drugs -- are being seized on a daily basis, officers said.

And senior Customs officials said they were noticing more instances of passengers concealing drugs internally.

"There were several people caught stuffing, swallowing and body packing in the baggage inspection area of the airport,'' said a spokeswoman.

"These are not new smuggling methods but at this time, these are the preferred methods.'' She said officers seized condoms stuffed with cannabis after strip-searching a man who raised suspicions because of "a large bulge in his groin area''.

And a woman was found to have a large quantity of cocaine hidden about her person, which had to be removed by medical staff.

The spokeswoman added: "Private parts of the body are frequently used to smuggle illegal drugs into the Island.

"But illegal drugs are not the only things that Customs officers find during their inspections.

"Suspected pornographic material is confiscated daily. At the various ports of entry, Customs officers act as agents of many Government departments and enforce their respective regulations accordingly.'' Former Collector of Customs Gerald Ardis revealed in September that $66 million worth of drugs had been confiscated in the 1990s.

And drugs worth more than $6 million were seized by Customs officers across Bermuda last year alone.

Finance Minister Dr. Grant Gibbons revealed the 1997 figures during the annual Ministry of Finance Budget debate last month.

He said cannabis had become the "drug of choice'' for smugglers and revealed that 70 shipments were intercepted by Customs officers in the previous 12 months.

Twenty cocaine seizures were made in 1997, he added, while there were 117 revenue seizures.

Last year saw 121 seizures of weapons and pornography and officers confiscated cash on 25 separate occasions.

Customs revenue brought Government $154 million last year.

A Customs spokeswoman added: "The first three months of 1998 produced 32 seizures by Customs, the majority of them being at the Airport.

"The total value of the seizures comes to more than $1.1 million -- but it is not a lucrative trade when you are caught. "We are involved in a never-ending fight and our message to the smugglers is that we will stay right on top of the job.'' DRUGS DGS