Michael Weeks praised the work of the island’s customs officers after a visit to operations at the LF Wade International Airport.

The Minister of National Security said cutting the flow of illegal drugs and weapons into the country was a priority of the ministry and the work of the Customs Department is crucial to achieve that goal.

“In July, I talked about the importance of cutting off the supply of such contraband, which, unfortunately, is a crucial element in our fight against gangs and community violence,” Mr Weeks said.

"Often, customs officers do not get the full credit they deserve for their onerous work for our collective security. I wanted to thank them in person and show them my support.”

Mr Weeks was also briefed on the operations of the three primary cargo vessels — MV Oleander,MV Somers Isles and MV Bermuda Islander.

The briefing included how customs staff conduct risk assessments on incoming cargo using the ship’s manifest and intelligence information from local and overseas resources to determine which shipment will be inspected.