Crime Stoppers helped to seize $2m in drugs
By Karen Smith
The Royal Gazette Ltd
Bermuda, July 17, 2000
A total of 87 percent of all
calls made to Crime Stoppers last year were drug related.
The latest figures released by
the civilian crime-cracking organisation have shown that despite Bermuda's
size, Crime Stoppers helped to seize almost the same amount of drugs in 1999
as the Miami branch.
Narcotics worth $2,089,500 were
seized in Bermuda, much of them brought in on cruise ships.
Crime Stoppers received 158
calls from people last year who were able to offer information to the Island's
various law enforcement agencies.
Of those callers who qualified,
only four percent requested a financial reward. As a result, $5,250 was paid
out to reward information that led to the conviction of criminals.
And the information offered led
to eight arrests for drug offences both on the Island and overseas, two
arrests in connection with handbag thefts from visitors and one arrest for an
assault on two individuals.
Two arrests were also made
involving outstanding apprehension warrants.
Bermuda coordinator Alex
McDonald said he was delighted people in Bermuda were taking the initiative to
help combat crime. And he said, with continued
support, next year's figures could show even more improvement.
"I'm very pleased with the
public's response to us asking them to help the law enforcement agencies in
sorting out problems in their communities, but it's only the tip of the
iceberg. People could still do a lot more," said Mr. McDonald.
"Initially, when Crime
Stoppers was first started in Bermuda, it did surprise us that the majority of
our calls were drug related, but when you look at the crime here, most of it
has some connection with drugs. Drugs fuel a lot of crime.
"And although Miami has a
lot of very serious crime, including a number of homicides, it's interesting
to see that the volume of drugs seized in Bermuda through Crime Stoppers is
the same as, if not more than, that seized through the Miami branch. That
proves that Bermuda is doing it right.