KIWIS CRACK BIG DRUG RING

WELLINGTON -- An international drug syndicate with links to Canada and
the United States has been smashed following a six-month
investigation, New Zealand police said today.

The eight face charges of importing and conspiring to import LSD,
supplying LSD, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and cannabis, as well
as money laundering.

They were arrested in a series of raids across New Zealand yesterday
following a six-month investigation that was launched after the RCMP
intercepted packages containing 6,000 LSD tablets with a street value
estimated at the equivalent of about $200,000 Cdn heading for New Zealand.

Four New Zealanders, three Canadians and a U.S. citizen were arrested
by New Zealand police.

While names of the eight accused were suppressed, authorities said two
of the Canadian citizens were from Vancouver and a third from Victoria.

Headed by Wellington police and customs officers, the operation was
aided by the RCMP in Vancouver and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency
officers in the Australian capital, Canberra, and Los Angeles.

The eight accused entered no pleas today and were released on bail
after surrendering their passports. They face prison sentences of up
to 18 years if found guilty of importing and supplying the drugs named
in the charges.