MPS BACK STRONGER POWERS TO TRACK DEALERS, POLICE NEW DRUGS

Wellington: Proposed new laws to give police and customs officers greater
powers to pursue drug dealers passed their first parliamentary hurdle
yesterday.

The Misuse of Drugs Amendment (No 3) Bill would increase powers to
search and seize suspected drug dealers.

It also gives wider power to track and charge people dealing in the
ingredients that make up some drugs. In the case of ingredients for
the drug P, it would be possible to search and seize without warrants.

New drugs and their ingredients would be covered more quickly by laws
that require people possessing drugs to prove they are not supplying.

The so-called "presumption of supply" laws would apply at lower
amounts for some drugs, such as methamphetamines.

The Bill also includes a provision to make it more difficult to
prosecute people in possession of needles and syringes.

The Government believes such prosecutions are undermining
syringe-exchange schemes, run to reduce HIV/Aids and hepatitis C.

The Government plans introducing further amendments to the Bill, to
create a new class of drugs that are subject to abuse, but do not
warrant the current A, B or C risk categories.

This new schedule would cover so-called "legal highs", such as
benzylpiperazine (BZP) and other substances that are abused, such as
solvents. Once on the schedule, substances could have restrictions
placed on them, covering the legal age of purchase, marketing, supply,
labelling and other matters.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton, who co-ordinates the
Government drug policy, said the Bill fitted into wider attempts to
reduce the supply of drugs.

Customs Minister Rick Barker said the law, once passed, would make it
easier for his officers to intercept drug dealers, particularly those
producing P.

"Seizure levels have increased from 10,308 pseudoephedrine tablets in
2000 to 1.3 million tablets so far this year," Mr Barker said.

New Zealand was increasingly being targeted by foreign drug
syndicates, he said.

All parties supported the Bill going forward to a select committee for
consideration, though many expressed some concerns about parts of the
Bill.

Green MP Nandor Tanczos said the Government had come up with some good
ideas, but the extension of search-without-warrant powers was a
concern. "These powers are routinely abused, and the extension is
unnecessary," he said.

The Government had in recent years taken a piecemeal approach to drug
legislation and it was time for a fresh look at the entire legislative
structure.

National MP Tony Ryall said the Bill effectively decriminalised drug
addicts using needles. Currently, people in possession of needles have
to prove they got them from an exchange scheme. Under the proposal,
the police would have to prove the needle was obtained elsewhere.