NASSAU, Bahamas The Bahamas is reporting a record number of killings that the government blames on a rise in drug trafficking.

The island chain just east of Florida has seen 88 killings this year, one more than the slayings reported for all of 2009.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham says many of the killings involve turf wars linked to the drug trade.

He told Parliament late Monday that he anticipates increasing the amount of time suspects can held in jail without being granted bail.

More than 300,000 people live in the Bahamas.