extra weight behind the fight against drug abuse from now on.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette , he said the narcotics department was no longer a specialised CID unit, but was now a division on its own, which gave it higher status.

With an increased narcotics budget this year, and a Police focus more on operational issues, the department is to receive additional support in the coming months.

That may not mean that extra officers are drafted into the department of 33, but it could mean that the needs of the department, and its operations, are given more of a priority.

Mr. Smith said: "The increased emphasis on the narcotics department really exists as of today.

"We have now moved it into a division of its own from a specialised CID unit.

"What we have done to enhance the operational effectiveness is look to work more closely with Customs. We have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Customs that incorporates a group of Customs officers and a group of Police officers forming a team to tackle drug interdiction.'' He said the forming of that relationship had helped to assist both Customs and narcotics officers in seizing more than $12 million worth of drugs so far this year, most of it heroin.

Mr. Smith said the fight against drugs was two-pronged. He said both the supply of drugs needed to be reduced, which was a Police and Customs task, but so did the demand for drugs, which was an issue for many agencies, including the treatment and prevention clinics and charities.

The Police Commissioner said he was aiming to raise the priority of drug interdiction. He added: "We are putting extra emphasis on the supply reduction side.'' Head of the narcotics unit Superintendent Larry Smith said he, too, believed narcotics would be further up the agenda of the new senior management team, which have taken over the top three jobs from April this year.

He said because Mr. Smith, Deputy Commissioner George Jackson, and Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams each had extensive experience in CID and the battle against drugs, they would give the subject more emphasis.

Supt. Smith said: "I think the new administration is going to be more supportive of the narcotics department than previous administrations. I think possibly between the three of them, they (their backgrounds) are more practical.

"Mr. Jackson was a narcotics head -- I took over from Mr. Jackson.

"Mr. Adams has spent a period of time in narcotics. They each have more investigative backgrounds, so I'm optimistic that we will get greater support.

See also Page 2 Police step up drugs battle "Mr. Smith has already expressed his support to this department.

"I have always said that if you give us moral and financial support to fight the problem, then it can only get better, not only for the force, but for the country.''