NZ TARGET FOR DRUG SYNDICATES - CUSTOMS

New Zealand has become a target for international drug trafficking
syndicates, the Customs service warns.

Customs manager of drug investigations Simon Williamson said this trend was
reflected by the increase in the number of large drug seizures made at New
Zealand borders.

"It is an alarming development in the New Zealand drug scene," Mr Williamson
said.

In the year ended June 30, 2003, Customs made 28 major seizures of
controlled drugs entering New Zealand.

As a result, 43 people were arrested. Of these, 21 were drug couriers.

Included in the seizures was more than 265,000 tablets of Ecstasy, 941g of
crystal methamphetamine, 964g of amphetamine, 217g of cocaine, and 233g of
heroin.

"The significant increase in big seizures indicates to us that we are being
targeted by transnational drug trafficking syndicates who have identified
New Zealand as being viable," Mr Williamson said. "Ecstasy has spiralled to
an all-time high."

Of the 28 major seizures in the last financial year, almost all were made at
Auckland International Airport or the International Mail Centre.

However, one was made at Christchurch International Airport.

Three of the large amounts of drugs seized were destined for the South
Island.

"We know we are not getting it all. In fact, we estimate we are only getting
about 20 per cent of it," Mr Williamson said.

The Government had provided an additional $1.9m to Customs to combat the
importing of illegal drugs.

"We have looked into the (drug) interceptions in the last 30 years and we
found that 70-plus per cent were from an informed basis, which means we knew
where to look rather than an intuitive search at an airport," Mr Williamson
said.

"We know now we should concentrate on the pro-active side of the business,
which means more working with police and increasing our ability to stop a
greater percentage of drugs coming in."