ECSTASY USE IN NZ SOARS

Ecstasy use in New Zealand has soared to one million tablets a year.

And Government officials say the use of amphetamines - including Ecstasy
and methamphetamine - compares with the popularity of heroin during the Mr
Asia days of the 1970s.

Heroin itself is seen as the biggest drug threat, especially if New Zealand
trends echo those seen in Australia, where heroin has been abundant in
recent years.

A report issued yesterday by Customs Minister Rick Barker shows police and
customs seizures of Ecstasy tablets rose 3000 per cent between 2000 and
last year. In the year to December 2002, customs officers and police seized
more than 255,000 Ecstasy tablets, or their equivalent in powder. An
estimated 38,500 people take Ecstasy at least twice a month.

Methamphetamine - or speed - is also popular.

"The availability of methamphetamine is becoming comparable to the sharp
increase in the supply of heroin in New Zealand in the late 1970s through
the activities of the Mr Asia syndicate," the report says. "This
availability at an affordable price is placing methamphetamine within the
reach of drug users in all strata of society. . . ."

Pure methamphetamine, known as pure or "P", has become more popular and
there has been a corresponding rise in arrests of people bringing in the
drugs used to make it. They include flu and cold remedies, known as
pseudoephedrines. "P" has been associated with crimes. RSA triple murderer
William Bell allegedly used it.

Customs officials report that overseas organised crime groups see New
Zealand as a profitable market. That is because "E" tablets sell for
$60-$80 each in Auckland, compared with $14-$16 in the Netherlands. The
report says drug suppliers can make a profit of 6000 to 8000 per cent here.

Importing drugs has also become popular among the organised crime groups in
New Zealand, whose number justice officials put at 330 to 660.

Customs Service drug investigations operations manager Simon Williamson
said there appeared to be a rise in overseas visitors coming here as "drug
mules", usually on behalf of organised crime groups.

Mr Barker announced the Government would put an extra $1.9 million from
this year's budget to boost customs drug teams in Auckland, Wellington and
Christchurch.