TNN Investigative Series: Inside the Underworld Part Three:
The underworld is not only about guns and killings — it is powered by the black market of drugs. In Bermuda, the trade is big business, and the profits are staggering. It is here, in the shadows of the island’s economy, that gangs find both their funding and their addiction.
TNN has spoken with individuals familiar with the street trade who, under conditions of anonymity, revealed the realities of the drug economy and its role in fueling gang violence.
• The Prices of the Trade
The value of drugs in Bermuda fluctuates depending on supply, connections, and street demand. Cocaine, for example, can run from $1,700 to nearly $2,900 an ounce, depending on the source. By the time it is broken down and sold on the street, the profits can multiply quickly.
A pound (“loud”) of marijuana , once broken into smaller units, can generate anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000, with top sellers making anywhere from $12,000 to $18,000 in return. The numbers are eye-opening — and they explain why so many young men are being pulled into the business despite the risks.
But cocaine is not the only commodity on the streets. Fentanyl — a deadly synthetic opioid that has devastated communities overseas — has now begun to creep into Bermuda. While exact pricing remains shadowy, the fact that it is being smuggled in at all is a major red flag for law enforcement and public health.
• Other Popular Drugs
• Heroin (“dope”): Typically runs between $2,000 and $3,000 per ounce, but prices are climbing as demand and scarcity shift.
• Hash oils and concentrates such as “shatter” and “crumble”: Fetch between $600 and $1,000 depending on quality. These extracts, sometimes called “live resin,” are becoming some of the most popular items on the market. Users describe shatter as a sticky paste-like substance, while crumble is drier, pressed from buds, and easier to smoke.
• Molly (“sauce”): Particularly popular among Bermuda’s younger crowd, molly is seen in crystal-like form and often used in party and sexual settings. It runs hottest during the summer months. One insider described it as “turning young people into sex freaks” — highlighting both its appeal and its dangers.
• The Economy of the Underworld
This drug trade is not just about getting high — it is about power and survival. The profits fund gang activity, buy weapons, and bankroll the killings that have shaken Bermuda in recent years. As revealed in Part Two of this series, these shooters from gangs are known to fuel up on molly (aka sauce) before carrying out executions, showing how drugs and violence are directly intertwined. Let’s keep it one hundred not all drug deals are pure, why I say this, “ You may have some of these thugs trying to buy drugs or guns and ammunition with fake money, that becomes a major problem in which you know the end result.”
• Three Bermudas
The drug market further widens the gap between what many describe as three Bermudas:
1. The haves — those with wealth and privilege.
2. The working class — struggling to make ends meet honestly.
3. The underworld — where quick money, drugs, and violence create a parallel economy.
It is in this underworld that young black men are recruited, drugs are pushed, and lives are lost. As long as the profits remain high and the demand strong, the cycle of drugs, gangs, and violence will continue to threaten Bermuda’s future.
Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful, or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites, or repeats previous comments will be removed.
User comments posted on this website are solely the views and opinions of the comment writer and are not a representation of or reflection of the opinions of TNN or its staff.
TNN reserves the right to remove, edit or censor any comments.
TNN accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for the comments made by users.