A top ranked Customs officer has dismissed public perception that the Police are behind the number of cruise ship passengers appearing in the Island's courts.

Collector of Customs Gerry Ardis -- who is set to retire soon -- told The Royal Gazette that it was Customs who were responsible for stopping drugs at the Island's ports of entry.

But he added that nothing was being done to nab drug-toting cruise passengers that had not been done in the past.

Mr. Ardis was speaking in response to an article in the daily newspaper last Monday entitled: "Police deny drugs crackdown of cruise ship passengers.'' The article highlighted an apparent increase in the number of cruise ship passengers appearing before the courts on drug related charges over the previous year and asked whether Police were doing anything unique which had led to the increase.

Police and shipping spokesmen denied the claim and put any increases down as coincidence.

Mr. Ardis noted that Customs worked very closely with Police on drug-related matters but his agency was responsible for taking initial action at ports of entry including cruise ship terminals and the Airport.

He said: "We handle drug interdiction at all ports of entry. Customs are the people making the interdiction. We identify the people who are likely to have drugs and we apprehend them and search them and their accommodations whether they be passengers or crew members.'' "We detain those with drugs and then we call the Police who take the people and any physical evidence we have gathered. They conduct further investigations if necessary and take the people to court.'' Mr. Ardis said Customs had always had a "zero tolerance'' attitude toward drugs and had not implemented anything to increase arrests of cruise ship passengers with drugs.

"We are not conducting anything more than we ever have done regarding drug seizures and interdiction,'' he said. "It just may seem more apparent.'' He said Customs were continuing what they had done for years on a day to day basis. "There are times when we will be more successful than others. We have been at it for a while. We have a system in place that has always been in place.'' In closing, he noted: "It is important to stress that we work hand in hand, very closely with the Police and we always have done. They can't do it alone and neither can we. There has to be a partnership and this partnership has been in place for years.''