Pubdate: Tue, 01 Apr 2003
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2003
Contact:  http://www2.odt.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925
Author: NZPA

MORE BORDER PROTECTION

Auckland: Border protection is being beefed up amid a warning 
overseas-based trans-national crime groups have been targeting New Zealand.

Customs Minister Rick Barker yesterday announced funding for the Custom 
Service's illicit drugs enforcement unit, previously at $2.5 million, had 
been boosted by $1.9 million.

He said the extra money would help drug teams in Auckland, Wellington and 
Christchurch to be proactive - take action based on intelligence rather 
than reacting to events.

It would allow for 12 more specialist investigators and four intelligence 
analysts to be employed. "The use of illicit drugs worldwide is a mounting 
problem and New Zealand is no exception," Mr Barker said.

"We have an increasing hard drug problem here, fuelled from both domestic 
and imported supply, and Customs needs to be better equipped to meet this 
problem."

He said the problem confronting Customs officers was made more difficult by 
the increase in travellers, mail and imported goods.

Customs national investigations manager Matt Roseingrave said a significant 
trend was the way overseas crime groups were focusing on New Zealand. The 
announcement of increased funding coincided with the release of Project 
Horizon , a document that looked at the New Zealand drug scene and at 
Customs' enforcement strategies.

The report found use of amphetamine-type substances here was surging, 
methamphetamine (speed) in particular.

The report described Ecstasy as the other fast-emerging drug of abuse in 
New Zealand, with most of it being imported.