Police drug seizures have "gone through the roof," with $4.9 million worth taken off the streets in the past three months.

But Takbir Sharrieff of Bermudians Against Narcotics said not enough is being done, and the figures do not indicate progress being made.

Revealing fresh statistics yesterday, Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva said: "Drug enforcement has been rising for six quarters in a row and it is significantly above the normal band."

He explained that 279 drug seizures were made in the second quarter, which covers April, May and June this year.

"That has more than doubled in the last 18 months," said Mr. DeSilva. "The figure includes 55 seizures at the ports of entry by the staff of the customs department, seven seizures including overseas law enforcement agencies where the drugs were destined for Bermuda, and 217 local street seizures."

The $4.9 million worth of drugs seized in the past three months was almost three times the amount confiscated in the first months of the year — $1.6 million worth.

Contributing to the overall total was $2.5 million worth of cannabis, $1.4 million worth of cocaine and crack and $933,000 worth of heroin.

Intelligence reports suggest that, instead of street prices going up, drug dealers are watering down the drug purity to stretch them further instead.

Speaking prior to the statistics being issued, Acting Detective Chief Inspector Robert Cardwell of the Drugs and Intelligence Division told this newspaper:

"There is no specific information reaching us to suggest that street level drug prices have altered. In the case of heroin and cocaine, there is evidence that the purity of these products is inconsistent, which is indicative of the products being stretched by dealers to maximise return.

"I have recently spoken with our stakeholder partners at the NDC (National Drug Commission), and we have discussed launching an initiative in a joint capacity to establish among other things, any new trends on street level drug prices."

Mr. DeSilva said after unveiling the statistics that the current picture on drug prices is only based on "non-scientific" and "anecdotal" accounts and caution should be exercised in relying on them.

Mr. Sharrieff of Bermudians Against Narcotics said: "Statistics are not an indication of progress in eradicating crime, violence, drug abuse and illegal activity in any community or society.

"First, the members of that society have to have a zero tolerance for that activity to abate or be eradicated."

He believes more drugs are entering the Island than before, and the price charged for them is not the important issue.

"Zero tolerance is zero tolerance, no matter if it's free. The community is under siege and a war is in full swing. It is no longer a war against drugs but a war on who gets more bang for their buck," he said.

Parliament recently passed legislation to prohibit vessels entering cruise ship terminal areas in the 30 minutes before and after cruise ships dock.

The Maritime Security Order 2010 aimed to make it more challenging for drugs and other illegal packages to be collected from ships. There are also plans to install a $2.6 million X-ray scanning system at Hamilton docks before the end of the year. Every container will be scanned to pick up on drugs and guns.

However, Mr. Sharrieff, a former Police Sergeant, claims Government has failed to demonstrate zero tolerance over the issue through steps such as drug testing for MPs and strengthening the appropriate departments.

"The criminal element became emboldened by the weak position (of) Police and Government and drug activity increased with lives being lost and a new menace — firearms activity and turf gang warfare to protect stakeholders," he said.