HEROIN BUST PUTS NZ ON DRUG MAP

New Zealand's status as a drug trafficking nation has been confirmed
by a record heroin haul in Fiji yesterday, and police fear it may lead
to more use of hard drugs here.

Wellington is believed to be one of the New Zealand cities where drugs
are repackaged for the international market.

A staggering 350kg of heroin - potentially worth more than $100
million on the streets - was seized in Suva yesterday in a joint sting
operation involving New Zealand Police and Customs, Fiji Police,
Australian Federal Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

It's believed the drugs, probably from Asia, were destined for
Australia and/or North America, via Fiji and possibly New Zealand.

The haul comes after a record 500kg cocaine bust north of Sydney
earlier this year. The cocaine was en-route to Australia from South
America via New Zealand.

Another haul of drugs, involving New Zealand, occurred 18 months ago
in which 10kg of Asian heroin was picked up in Auckland. The heroin
was being repackaged for Australia.

Detective Inspector Cam Ronald, of the National Drug Intelligence
Bureau, today confirmed New Zealand's recent role as an international
staging post for drugs and said the trend was likely to continue.

"It's absolutely a concern."

Mr Ronald said the risk of New Zealand's new role in the drug world
was that the country would see a surge in hard drug use. Small amounts
of cocaine and heroin had already been picked up on our streets,
probably the result of an entrepreneur pilfering in the repackaging
stage.

Most of the drugs were linked to West African syndicates operating out
of Asia. It usually arrived in Auckland where it was repackaged for
Australia via Wellington or Christchurch.

Mr Ronald said police were now able to reveal details of its joint
operation with Customs, investigating New Zealand's involvement with
international drug syndicates.

"There's been an ongoing operation in New Zealand, targeting a group
(of foreigners) believed to be connected to this transnational
syndicate. The activities of the New Zealand members of the syndicate
have caused serious concern given the potential threat to New
Zealand's borders of an operation this size."

Two men were arrested in Fiji after an initial seizure of 30kg of
heroin led to the discovery of a 300-350kg heroin stockpile in a Suva
house.