Police and Customs stop online drug imports

Wellington Police and New Zealand Customs have undertaken a joint investigation targeting the importers of psychoactive substances and controlled drugs ordered over the internet.

Operation Venus has seen the seizure of dozens of small packages over the past several months destined to addresses all across the Wellington District.

These packages have contained methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoid, Ecstasy, and Alpha PVP. Last week Police and Customs staff executed search warrants at six addresses in the Hutt Valley and Porirua resulting in the arrests of four people and the seizure of significant quantities of synthetic cannabinoid.

These people have been charged with offences including importation of psychoactive substances, possession of psychoactive substances with intent to supply, and cultivating cannabis.

Police are continuing to investigate several of the importations and further arrests are possible. Maurice O’Brien, Customs Investigations Manager, said, "the community should be reassured that Customs have some excellent layered border security processes in place to disrupt small internet facilitated importations and work with police to ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions". Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch, head of the Wellington Organised Crime team, says the issue of people importing drugs over the internet continues to plague the community.

"Police and Customs are determined to disrupt this activity as much as possible to help prevent the significant harm that these substances cause to our communities.

"Since the increased restrictions of psychoactive substances in 2014 there has been an increase in the unlawful importation of these harmful substances.

People engaged in such activity cannot hide behind the apparent anonymity of the internet and face the real risk of criminal convictions and possible imprisonment for importing these substances," said Detective Senior Sergeant Leitch.

ENDS

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