SPEED-DRUG FINDS SOAR

Seizures of substances suspected of being destined for illegal
drug-making have risen alarmingly this year, says the Customs Service.

Drugs such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are commonly found in cold
and cough medicines, but are also used for producing methamphetamine,
also known as speed, or P in its purer form.

Customs' operation manager for drug investigations, Simon Williamson,
said officers had seized 530,000 tablets, or the powdered equivalent,
of the substances in 222 incidents this year. This compared with
32,653 tablets intercepted in the whole of 2001, and 254,987 last year.

Mr Williamson said the dramatic increase was stretching the service's
resources.

"We are concerned that this may be just the beginning of a burgeoning
flood of precursors across New Zealand's borders."

One likely reason for the increase was the clampdown on
methamphetamine in New Zealand.

Under the Government's Methamphetamine Action Plan announced in May,
the drug was upgraded to class A and the availability of ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine products was restricted.