Bermuda police and customs officers have arrested four people and seized almost US$2 million in suspected cannabis in the latest major drug bust.
Officers said on Thursday they executed warrants at a Hamilton business and homes in Devonshire and Pembroke parishes, seizing a shipping container in the process.
The container yielded what was believed to be cannabis with a street value of US$1.9 million, the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) said.
The police drugs unit was assisted by the financial crime unit and the tactical division.
Detective Superintendent Sherwin Joseph, who leads the criminal division, said the operation disrupted “the illegal activities of a well-organized crime group here in Bermuda, and has dealt a severe blow to their well-established illegal importation pipeline”.
Thanking HM Customs for its assistance, Joseph added: “The BPS drug unit will continue this investigation, which is now at a critical stage.”
The operation is the latest in a series of high-profile drug seizures in recent months.
In February, seven people were arrested and suspected drugs and cash as well as illegal dogs were taken in police raids on two houses in Devonshire and Smith’s.
A police sting at a Smith’s residence netted drugs with an estimated street value of US$1.3 million. Six people were taken into custody.
A police operation dubbed Operation Mortar led to three arrests at locations in Pembroke and St George’s on October 24 after a shipment containing almost 120lb of cannabis was seized.
A significant raid attributed to a “major” drug-trafficking ring was conducted last August, leading to six arrests, followed by another raid in which five were arrested and ammunition, drugs, and more than US$300,000 in cash were seized.
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