Pubdate: Thu, 08 Dec 2005
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Jarrod Booker, and Elizabeth Binning
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

18 ARRESTS AS POLICE SWOOP ON P DEALERS IN THREE CITIES

Police say $400,000 of the methamphetamine drug P seized in a
nationwide operation yesterday would have been sold throughout the
South Island within seven to 10 days.

The bust followed months of investigation into what police have
described as major methamphetamine dealing by organised crime
syndicates throughout the country.

There are also links to Asian crime syndicates, and police believe the
drug was not locally made.

In a combined operation, 120 Customs and police staff executed search
warrants in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington.

Although no laboratories were found, more than $400,000 of P was
seized, and 18 people in Christchurch and Wellington arrested.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tom Fitzgerald said the methamphetamine was
not made in New Zealand.

"There are definitely international connections. That's how organised
crime syndicates operate. You can only operate if you have got a
decent franchise operation."

Mr Fitzgerald said methamphetamine was a huge problem.

"It results in a large amount of burglary, receiving, prostitution,
aggravated robberies."

Dave Campbell, of Customs investigations, said there had been an
explosive growth in the importing of materials to make P, which were
becoming more and more difficult to intercept.

"As we discover one method of concealment, other methods of
concealment are manufactured and expanded upon."

Mr Campbell said most of the materials were coming from Asia, China in
particular.

"New Zealand has long been recognised as a growing market for these
types of products and Asian organised crime and other organised crime
take advantage of those market opportunities. I would expect this will
be a continuing trend."

The arrested people face a number of charges including conspiracy to
supply methamphetamine and the supply of the drug.

Police say the bust is expected to make "a huge hole" in the
Canterbury methamphetamine market.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin