Police Seize Three Guns & Almost $1M Of Drugs

December 21, 2018

[Updated] The Bermuda Police Service is holding a press conference this morning [Dec 21] on what they said was a “significant drug and firearm seizure”. We will have additional coverage later on and in the meantime the live video is below.

Update 11.30am: We will have more information later on, and in meantime as a summary, the police confirmed they have seized three guns and just under $1 million worth of drugs.

Police Commissioner Stephen Corbishley said, “The Bermuda Police Service can confirm that officers executed several search warrants. This was in the area of Curving Avenue, Pembroke on Wednesday the 19th and yesterday, Thursday the 20th.

“In total, three firearms and a large quantity of drugs have been recovered. This represents the most significant firearms recovery, with three firearms, and just under $1 million worth of drugs being taken off of Bermuda’s streets,” he said, adding that “at the moment, we have one person in custody.”

When asked about the type of drug, Commissioner Corbishley said, “There was cannabis, there was crack cocaine; there was a variety of different drugs. Obviously that will go off of forensic analysis to confirm the weight, but it’s estimated to have a street value of up to $1 million.”

Update: The live broadcast has concluded and the 9-minute replay is below

Update 11.49am: As a reference, the police provided the numbers of gun seizures over the past few years:

  • 2018 – 6 recovered firearms [this includes the 3 from this week]
  • 2017 – 1 recovered firearm
  • 2016 – 3 recovered firearms
  • 2015 – 7 recovered firearms
  • 2014 – 1 recovered firearm
  • 2013 – 3 recovered firearms
  • 2012 – 1 recovered firearm

Update 4.07pm: Commissioner of Police Stephen Corbishley said, “The Bermuda Police Service can confirm that officers executed several search warrants in the Curving Avenue, Pembroke area Wednesday, December 19th and Thursday, December 20th.

“In total 3 firearms and a large quantity of drugs was recovered.

“This represents a significant firearms recovery with three firearms and just under $1 million dollars’ worth of drugs being taken off Bermuda’s streets.

“I would like to thank all the officers who were involved in this operation. Their hard work, attention to detail and dedication yielded significant results and ultimately our local community is the beneficiary.

“I would also like to thank members of our community who heeded our call to be bold and communicate any information to us, no matter how insignificant it appeared to be.

“This however, is not a time for the Bermuda Police Service to be complacent – but it does highlight the work that still has to be done to make our communities safer.

“We are an intelligence led organisation and the fruits of activity over the last couple of days is testament to that fact.

“The communities where these firearms were found are good communities. They are communities with different people – seniors, young people, families, law abiding.

“Where we worked in the last couple of days is not representative of those communities.

“What it is representative of, is a small number of criminal who are intent on using violence with each other, and the highest level of violence involving firearms.

“So by taking the firearms away from them, and taking drugs away from them that they will put on our streets, it impacts their ability to cause harm, distress and indeed loss of life to loved ones.

“So that’s the best thing that we’ve done. But we will continue working in those communities, we will continue to listen to them, we will continue to support them so we continue to target those criminals who have no regard for law and order and no regard for the way in which those communities want to live.

“It is Christmas and whilst the events of the past couple of days are notable, I would like to reiterate that Bermuda is a safe place – there are few firearms in Bermuda, there are few people that use them and our activities have addressed some of that matter over the past 48 hours.

“I want people to feel confident in the Bermuda Police Service – confident that they can contact us, confident that we will keep it confidential and confident that we will do something about it.

“This is part of our continuing operation to tackle the effects of gang violence, the use of firearms in our community and to take drugs off our streets.

“So as we move into 2019 more effort, greater intelligence will be used and more work will be done to make Bermuda safer.”

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Comments (22)

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  1. Dread says:

    The police must stop taking ganja off the streets before Xmas, this is were the problems start!!!!!!!

    • Real Deal says:

      well Gov needs to hurry and make ganja legal because the dealers are worst than the bankers when it comes to pricing. the rest of the work cries for us when they find out the prices in Bermuda. the article says 1M worth people not from here would read that and think its a shipping container worth but when in reality its probably just a shoe box worth.

  2. DUH says:

    Kudos to The Bermuda Police Service !!! Great Job !!! You have saved lives with that seizure. Good for You !!! And all those drugs !!! Ridiculous. all they are doing is killing their own Family & Friends with that poison. To the drug owners . Serves You right!!! Merry Christmas!! Hahahahahahahaha

    • sage says:

      Alcohol and cigarettes kill far more than all hard drugs combined yet are legal, ganja has killed no one, and prohibition of drugs guarantees limited supply which drives up prices, simple economics, and the cycle continues.

  3. Ben S says:

    Awaiting the press conference by the Collector of Customs explaining how the guns and drugs entered Bermuda.

    • Toodle-oo says:

      ^ This

    • Pure Madness says:

      Lack of man power, extremely poor layout in airport, almost anyone can just walk out the door if they have nothing to declare….. damn shame, Well done BPS!!

    • Serious Though says:

      THANK YOU!

    • Izzypop says:

      Now that’s the million dollar question. Someone at customs is slacking.

    • sage says:

      How about the press conference to explain how X-hundred million of BDA currency magically becomes US currency to buy drugs overseas in such a ‘highly regulated’ financial system.

  4. Wahoo says:

    Nice!

  5. Family Man says:

    There’s a new sheriff in town.

    And it really shows.

    • Trufth says:

      100% agree! Corbishley doesn’t mess around. Now let’s hope the courts also do their job and put these idiots away.

  6. puzzled says:

    That’s what all the buzz was about.

    Good Friday.

  7. Y-Gurl says:

    Wonder where the drugs end up after the trial?

  8. YZF says:

    While I agree dribs and drabs enter through the airport, the seaports are the larger concern. Especially cruise ships/cargo vessels. Marine and ports pilots are allowed to enter and exit these vessels with no police or customs presence…and some are quite well off by now as you may know! The lack of enforcement at the seaports is evidenced by the Philipino National who was recently incarcerated for drug and firearm importation…he had reportedly walked right off the cargo docks – who is to say how many times? Also the oil docks are wide open to possible drug importation – zero law enforcement there. Thirdly ask yourself how these commercial charter fisherman can afford 2 million dollar yachts…and some very nice houses.

  9. Oh,I see now says:

    We all agree that much more can and needs to be done, but damn, can we just appreciate the effort and results of this particular drug bust….ffs

  10. Thank you & Football games next says:

    A million dollars of drugs just sitting around curving avenue. You have to wonder who in the position of authority are helping to import, can’t wait till they are arrested.

    Now, I’ll would like to go to the football games over the holidays and breathe fresh air. Mr. Commissioner can you please have your officers escort those off the ground who openly smoke.

  11. Bermy.The.End says:

    Need more headlines like this.

  12. MM says:

    We need to think of the various ways we can support the police service , and do so.

  13. Simon Peter says:

    Well there goes my Christmas shot – herbflation!

  14. Oh,I see now says:

    Like cigarettes were for some let’s see if the cost of buying herb isn’t worth it anymore.Hmm,125 a week times 4 then multiply that times 12 =

    Credit cards paid off
    Bills reduced
    Emergency trip abroad
    Feeling of accomplishment

    That is a conservative 1bag a week for the working family man/woman.Far be it for me to knock another mans pastime but the numbers don’t lie.