BAR RAID BEGINS ANTI-DRUG BLITZ

Wellington police have begun a three-month operation to stamp out the
burgeoning trade in methamphetamine (Speed) and Ecstasy in inner-city bars
by arresting four people.

Sergeant James Lee said yesterday that police raided Vespa Lounge just
before midnight on Friday.

The bar's licensee and part-owner had been charged with possession of Speed,
a staff member with possession of Ecstasy, and two patrons with disorderly
behaviour. They were expected to appear in Wellington District Court this
Friday.

Mr Lee said 35 police helped execute the warrant at Vespa. Undercover
officers had been in the bar before the raid.

The bar, which was full with about 120 patrons, was closed down for 1-1/2
hours while police searched. It re-opened after that.

Mr Lee said police had been receiving information for up to six months about
the trade of drugs in central city bars.

"We are going to crack down on pubs . . . we want to send a message that we
are not going to tolerate the trade of harder drugs."

He said it was the first time such a raid had been conducted for a long time
and patrons were shocked, but the trade must be attacked head-on.