NZ AND FIJI POLICE IN $870M DRUG RAID

A methamphetamine laboratory thought to be one of the largest in the world
has been smashed in a joint operation involving New Zealand and Fijian
police.

The clandestine lab on the outskirts of Suva was capable of producing up to
500kg of the illicit drug each week.

The amount of methamphetamine produced in New Zealand each year is estimated
at between 100kg and 140kg.

Authorities who raided the lab seized drugs and chemicals with a street
value of $870 million from a factory warehouse.

New Zealand experts involved in the bust estimated the chemicals could
produce 1000kg of crystal methamphetamine or P, says operation head Tony
O'Connor, director-general of Fiji Customs.

Fijian police said the laboratory was set up to produce the drug for the New
Zealand, Australian, United States and European markets. They described the
lab as one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and possibly the world.

Detective Superintendent Larry Reid, acting national crime manager, said New
Zealand police had been actively involved in the investigation, but he would
not divulge specific details.

"Had it arrived in New Zealand in substantial amounts it would have created
quite an issue," Mr Reid said "We think it's a significant blow against
methamphetamine in New Zealand and sends a very strong message that we are
capable of stopping that methamphetamine coming into the country."

Fiji police and Customs said an Asian crime syndicate was behind the lab.

Fiji police commissioner Andrew Hughes said seven people - three Fijians and
four others from an undisclosed Asian country - had been arrested.

The raid was the culmination of a year-long operation by a joint Fiji
Customs and police transnational crime unit which monitored the
establishment and raided the lab as it was in full production.

Mr O'Connor said the chemicals found at the site had come from overseas and
inquiries were continuing.

Inquiries would also continue into the distribution networks set up to move
the drug overseas.

A team of eight New Zealand police would be involved in dismantling the lab
over the next 10 days.

They would be joined by scientists from the Environmental Science and
Research Institute (ESR).

Mr Reid said that although it was not known how much of the drug was
destined for New Zealand, this country was a "recognised market".

Mr Hughes said officers had been watching the site for the past 14 months.

"We have been waiting for the appropriate moment to move in and that is when
they commence production."

He thought the drugs would have ended up in Australia, the US, Europe and
New Zealand.

"This is a frightening example of transnational organised crime elements
using Fiji as a staging ground for their illegal activities."