The terrorist attacks on America last week could have a lasting effect on the way drug traffickers move their wares around the world, a senior Police officer warned last night.

Bermuda Police's head of the narcotics division Superintendent Larry Smith said the tightening up of airport security by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may force traffickers to find new ways of importing and exporting.

He said both Police and Customs officers in Bermuda were already preparing themselves for changes to methods of interdiction and said they needed to be one step ahead of illicit dealers.

"We know that the FAA is introducing more stringent security measures for airports and for when passengers enter airlines," said Supt. Smith.

"With the move to improve security measures, we are suspecting that drug dealers will be more creative, and, as a result of them being more creative, Bermuda Police and Customs will have to be a bit more innovative as well, to be a step ahead of them.

"Drugs are a vast money making thing, almost like a machine, so we know they will find new ways.

"If you want to become a billionaire overnight, one just has to successfully import 200 kilos of drugs, particularly cocaine or heroin, into any country you can and then imagine the vast profit margin that that shipment would reap.

"It's big business, so we suspect they will be looking for new ways of getting drugs in and out."