11 April 2013

Customs warns fake ecstasy importers and users

Customs says the sentencing of an unemployed Invercargill man yesterday to two years’ imprisonment for importing over $21,000 worth of the ecstasy mimic, bk-MDMA, sends a clear warning to all such importers that they will be caught and prosecuted.

Justin Fraser, 27, was sentenced on two importation charges and one possession for supply charge.

He was arrested by Customs officers in August last year after being connected to a package intercepted at the International Mail Centre. The package, which was sent from China, contained 260 grams of an off-white powder sealed in a foil bag. Tests confirmed this to be bk-MDMA.

Customs Manager Investigations, Mark Day, says the increasing number of analogue drugs intercepted at the border, especially through mail, is a growing concern and focus for Customs.

“Fake ecstasy is easily bought online and the growing range of unknown substances that Customs intercepts indicates a real danger that users may be unknowingly taking untested and harmful products.”

“Drug importers think they can get away with it because the quantities coming in through mail are low. But often, such as in this case, multiple importations are connected to the same person and so the potential harm is significant. Customs is focussing efforts to catch such offenders,” Mr Day says.

A search warrant conducted at Fraser’s residence located two capsules that also tested positive for bk-MDMA. Further evidence linked him to drug dealing and selling bk-MDMA in powder and capsule form.

Customs intercepts around 70 white powders each month. On-the-site drug testing equipment is used for initial tests and unidentifiable substances are sent for further testing as required.

Two weeks ago Customs arrested three Hamilton locals in relation to importing psychoactive drugs through mail.

Bk-MDMA, also known as methylone, is a class C controlled drug. It is an analogue of ecstasy or MDMA, which is classified as a class B controlled drug.

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