'ICE' ADDICTS USE CRIME TO FEED $1000-A-DAY HABITS

A new, powerful and expensive form of methamphetamine is creating a surge
in burglaries by addicts desperate to feed $1000-a-day habits.

Crystal methamphetamine, known as "ice" because of its crystalline
appearance, is becoming more common among drug users, despite its price tag
of up to $1000 a gram here, say police.

The drug, also known as "burn" or "pure", has a purity level of more than
80 per cent, compared with common methamphetamine, or speed, which varies
between 10 and 20 per cent and costs $100 a gram.

Detective Sergeant Mata John, of the Auckland police burglary squad, said
burglaries in eastern suburbs were up from 20 to 50 a day since the drug
hit the street in May.

Although the figures show a 7 per cent drop in burglaries for the Auckland
district for the year to June, Detective Sergeant John said hardened
addicts were committing more burglaries.

"We're picking up people who are telling us that 'pure' is the reason
they're doing a lot more burglaries ... We're talking about people who have
now got habits of $1000 a day. That's not an easy habit to fund."

Users here are sold the drug in packets called "points", as in "point one
of a gram for $100".

Unlike common speed, which is inhaled, the crystals are smoked in pipes, or
burned, and the vapours inhaled, giving users an unusually powerful dose.

The effects are said to be an intense rush, followed by a feeling of
euphoria for up to 16 hours, but users can also suffer hallucinations and
paranoia, and exhibit bizarre, aggressive and psychotic behaviour.

The drug was developed in Asia in the 1970s, and became widely available in
the US during the 1980s.

Police believe a small amount has been imported over the past year, but
more of it is being produced locally.

Customs officers seized 1kg of the drug, worth an estimated $1 million, at
Auckland International Airport in July after strip-searching two Malaysian
men who were also caught trafficking heroin.

Auckland drug squad detectives said they discovered evidence of the
crystals being produced here in February, when they raided a
methamphetamine lab in Auckland.

One drug squad officer, who did not wish to be identified, said that
although the drug was common overseas, it was difficult to gauge its
long-term effect on the local crime scene because it was so new here.

"What I can say for sure is that there's more of it every day and it's
getting harder and harder to control."

He said local gangs were behind its production and distribution.