FEARS METH COOK IN DUNEDIN

Police fear a methamphetamine laboratory may be operating in Dunedin
following a spate of pharmacy burglaries.

A man was arrested yesterday and police allege he is an ingredient shopper,
further fuelling fears a cook is at work in the city.

Two Dunedin pharmacies have been burgled of cold and flu products
containing pseudoephedrine and an attempt made on a third in the past two
weeks, Detective Sergeant Kevin Anderson said.

The latest incident was yesterday, when about 20 packets of
pseudoephedrine-based products were taken in a 2am raid on Gardens Pharmacy
in Northeast Valley. Pseudoephedrine is the main ingredient used in
manufacturing methamphetamine, a class A drug.

"I have no doubt in my mind at all that these products are destined for
methamphetamine cooks and I think we would be very naive to think that cook
is not in Dunedin," Det Sgt Anderson said.

"That is a big concern."

The spate of burglaries and arrest of the shopper is history repeating
itself for Dunedin police.

"This started happening late last year and that was when we uncovered and
closed down our first methamphetamine lab in Dunedin."

The clandestine laboratory was discovered in a North Dunedin home in
October after a Christchurch-based drug bust coincided with a month-long
surveillance operation being undertaken by Dunedin police.

"That proves the cooks have been down this far before and there's no reason
to think they're not a more permanent fixture now," Det Sgt Anderson said.

That would make the drugs a disturbing reality on Dunedin streets.

"They are already readily available in Dunedin. If there was a cook
stationed here, there would be a lot of serious and negative spin-offs.

"Obviously, more pharmacies would be targeted for the ingredients, more of
the drugs would be available, and more of it on the streets."

Some people needed only one dose of the drug to become addicted, he said.

"This is a very nasty drug. It's easy money for the gangs and groups
involved in manufacturing it, but it can be a life sentence for the users.

"What we're experiencing here is how the problems started in the North
Island and we need to be more pro-active and make sure we don't get to
their extent," he said.

Doing so meant receiving help from the public.

"These labs can be set up, a batch made and the lab cleaned up and gone in
eight to 12 hours. That makes them difficult for us to track down.

"But someone out there must know someone who is involved in this and we
need their help."

Moteliers should be particularly aware.

"Motels are often used because they can go in, do their cooking and leave
again without a trace."

He believed teamwork between the police and community could stop
methamphetamine becoming a "bigger problem that it already is in Dunedin".

"It's only a losing battle when we give up and stop caring. I have no
intention of doing that."

A 33-year-old man appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday charged
with conspiring with unknown persons, between last October and yesterday,
to manufacture methamphetamine. Judge Stephen O'Driscoll refused a bail
application by counsel John Westgate, but agreed to suppress the man's name
until Wednesday to allow him time to inform his employer and his family of
his situation.

The man was remanded in custody to appear again on July 2.