POLICE SAY SAFETY CONCERNS PROMPTED DRUG RAID

Tokoroa police have defended a drug raid on a local plywood mill, saying it
followed reports of drug use and dealing at the plant.

Detective Sergeant Mark Loper, head of the Tokoroa CIB, said yesterday that
health and safety were involved.

"We don't want anyone getting squashed [by machinery] because they are
smoking dope."

About 20 police from Tokoroa and Rotorua, with a drug dog, raided the
Carter Holt Harvey mill about 7.30 pm last Wednesday.

The raid raised the ire of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing
Union, which said such events were virtually unheard of in New Zealand
workplaces.

The union, which is investigating the raid's legality, was looking into
reports of a man being strip-searched, another being manhandled from a
forklift and a third being dragged from a toilet.

The involvement of the employer was also of concern. Union general counsel
Tony Wilton said management was required to deal with employees in good faith.

Detective Sergeant Loper would not comment on any specific allegations, but
said the raid had been conducted properly.

Mill management said they were concerned about the possible link between
cannabis use and accidents.