SPEED MERCHANTS FACE LIFE JAIL TERM

Wellington - Sentences of life imprisonment can be imposed on drug dealers
selling methamphetamine after a reclassification on the drug came into
effect yesterday.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said importers, manufacturers and
suppliers of methamphetamine, commonly known as speed, could face life
imprisonment as the drug was now rated class A under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The step was part of the Government's Methamphetamine Action Plan to
address the growing methamphetamine problem across New Zealand.

"While dabbling in other drugs might impair people's performances,
methamphetamine is pure evil and can have permanent, serious physical and
psychological effects on individuals while creating havoc in families and
communities," Mr Anderton said in a statement.

The new status meant life imprisonment could be imposed for importing,
manufacturing and supplying the drug. It also gave police stronger powers
as they could search and seize without a warrant where they had reasonable
suspicion that the drug was present.

Mr Anderton said the action plan included greater search and seizure powers
for Police and powers for Customs to seize unlicensed imports of the
ingredients for methamphetamine, improved community education and more
comprehensive drug monitoring surveillance data to support enforcement.

Meanwhile, police have commissioned Massey University to investigate the
effect of the increased use of speed and similar drugs such as ecstasy in
New Zealand.

The university's centre of social and health outcomes research evaluation
has been given $150,000 to do the work.

Lead researcher Chris Wilkins said the project was the first to quantify
the effect amphetamine-type stimulant drugs were having in New Zealand, the
size and value of the market, provide some indication of the effectiveness
of enforcement strategies and the level of criminal activity related to
their use.

It would also look at ways to deal with the criminal offences associated
with the drugs, model the potential effect of the drugs in future and
develop police responses to speed-related offending and victimisation.

Dr Wilkins said the work should be completed by mid-2004.