1998, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

New drug seizure figures drawn up by the head of Bermuda's narcotics department indicate that the use of hard drugs on the Island is on the increase, while the demand for softer illicit substances, such as marijuana, has come down.

Chief Inspector Larry Smith said in 1998, 119.39 grams of heroin was seized, worth a street value of about $200,000.

But last year, drugs officers confiscated 836.41 grams worth more than $1.8 million, amounting to a 600 percent rise.

During the same period, cocaine seizures rose by 34.6 percent, from 5.21 kilos in 1998 to 7.79 kilos in 1999.

But the amount of marijuana found on the Island decreased by 51 percent, from 132.39 kilos to 87.67 kilos.

Chief Insp. Smith said: "These figures are more accurate than anybody else's because all drugs seized go through this department.

"You can draw an evident assumption that the demand for the drug has gone up.

"We can speculate one of the reasons for the increase is dealers can make more money, thousands of dollars, by importing and selling heroin.

"There is far more money to be made in buying and selling heroin than is in cannabis and cocaine.'' CrimeStoppers launches war on drug dealers -- See Page 9 Heroin seizures up by 600 percent But he said he believed drug users were opting for heroin instead of other substances because the high they received from it was greater.

"We have to ask ourselves why and think about what people are trying to achieve when they take drugs,'' he said. "Heroin goes into the veins and straight into the bloodstream, so the user gets a quicker rush.'' He said although the amount of heroin coming onto the Island was not as great as the problems in the US or some of the Caribbean islands, there was still an awful lot of money to be made.

He estimated that in the US, a kilo of heroin would net a street value of between $75,000 and $250,000.

In Bermuda, that same kilo of heroin would net the dealer more than $2 million, simply because most things in Bermuda are more expensive than in other places.

Chief Insp. Smith added: "It's safe to say that to deal in heroin, one must have a good surplus of money to purchase it in the first place.

"There is an assumption that dealers of heroin operate in small corporations, rather than as individuals.'' He said there were probably two reasons why there had been such an increase in the seizures of heroin last year.

Narcotics officers, he said, worked very hard last year to combat drug traffickers coming onto the Island, and there was no doubt that the use of the drug had increased.

He added: "I think people will be shocked by the figures. But I hope the shock means people will place more emphasis on the problem.

"These figures may make people realise the inherent danger this country is under.'' Focus counsellor Sandy Butterfield said: "Yes, heroin use has definitely increased. I have seen a change in the past three to four years. There are large numbers of people going for detox treatment.'' National Drugs Commission chief executive Dr. Derek Binns last night said he estimated heroin abuse was on the increase.

He said in 1995 it was estimated that between 243 and 671 adults on the Island were using heroin on a regular basis.

Last year he said that figure had gone up to between 342 and 713.

DRUGS DGS