TENFOLD INCREASE IN METHAMPHETAMINE ENTERING NZ

Police and customs officials say the amount of pure methamphetamine
("P") entering New Zealand has increased tenfold in the past year.

Customs spokesman Paul Campbell said criminal rings, many based in
China, were using seemingly legitimate import companies to bring in
the drugs as shipping cargo and on yachts.

Police and customs staff lacked the resources to carry out large drug
bust operations "beyond the first level of distribution", he told
Radio New Zealand.

He said the value of the drugs in New Zealand was 10 times what it
would have been in their country of origin.

A police National Drug Intelligence Bureau spokesman said the main
focus for police was domestic use of methamphetamine.

However, they were reviewing the need to put more money and time into
stopping the drug from entering the country.