SO far this year, Royal Navy anti-smuggling operations have already netted almost 40 per cent of the total value of goods seized last year.
And intelligence reports suggest that the number of operational tai feis - high-powered speedboats - has been slashed.
The British Garrison's three Peacock-class patrol vessels and their speedboats seized contraband worth $11 million in the first three months and recovered more than half of all the money seized in 1992, according to figures released by HMS Tamar.
A spokesman for the garrison said the improved performance was due to liaison between the navy and other members of the anti-smuggling task force led by the police.
In the first 90 days of the year, the navy recovered goods worth $11.34 million and $434,000 in cash, compared to goods valued at $29.5 million and $803,300 cash during 1992.
Already 17 speedboats have been captured, which is almost 40 per cent of last year's total. The navy arrested 49 suspected smugglers up until the end of March - 52 per cent of the 1992 total.