Another Large Drug Seizure At The Border

Thursday May 30 2002

Customs officers have made another large drug seizure at the border, this time more than half a million dollars worth of high purity crystallised Methamphetamine (commonly referred to as “Ice”).

The seizure was made by Customs officers at the International Mail Centre at Auckland Airport, engaged in x-raying inward mail from Thailand. The x-ray examination indicated the possibility of enclosures within metal canisters contained within two parcels. Both parcels were intended for the same Auckland suburban address, though they bore different addressee names.

Closer inspection revealed plastic bags of a crystallised substance contained within talcum powder-like dispensers. The substance was subsequently confirmed as being crystallised Methamphetamine, to a total weight of 863 grams.

A joint Police/Customs controlled delivery operation was instigated as a result of this seizure. This resulted in the arrest yesterday of a 41 year old male, a New Zealand national of Asian descent.

He faces charges relating to the importation and possession for supply of a class B controlled drug.

Enquiries into the importation are on-going.

“Ice” commonly sells at street level in New Zealand for between $600 to $1,000 per gram. Therefore the drugs seized have a potential street value of between $517,800 and $863,000.

Ends

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