POLICE HOPE FOR POWER TO BUST SPEED MARKET

Police hope changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act will help bust the lucrative
gang-controlled market for methamphetamine, or speed.

The Wellington organised crime unit head, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul
Berry, said police had been concerned about the rise in speed's popularity
in recent years.

The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill now before Parliament's health select
committee would allow more flexibility in reclassifying illegal drugs, he
said.

Speed is a class B drug, but the bill could lead to its rapid
reclassification as a class A drug, with higher penalties for users that are
caught. Reclassification would also reduce the amount of speed people could
carry before being considered dealers - it is now 56 grams, whereas for the
class A drug heroin it is half a gram.

"Overseas, amphetamine drugs are overtaking heroin as the number one
problem. People don't think it's as addictive as heroin but it is
addictive," Mr Berry said.

Gangs imported speed till about three years ago, when they began
manufacturing it. The increase in quantity coincided with a price drop, from
about $300 a gram to between $90 and $180 a gram.

"We've found no operating labs in Wellington but we've found equipment
used - labs are transportable, they can fit in small box," Mr Berry said.

Police have found several laboratories in the north of the North Island.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said police were concerned the
drug was making some gangs, and individuals, extremely wealthy.

"Speed has traditionally been associated with motorbike gangs and they are
still major distributors. One of the major bike gangs is suspected to have
been 'cooking' meth in New Zealand since the early 1980s. I've been talking
to a lot of criminals about it and they're saying it's turning people
psychotic and violent very quickly," Mr O'Connor said.

The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill is unlikely to be considered for several
months.