JUNKIES TARGET CHEMISTS, WAREHOUSES

Junkies are targeting the region's chemists and drug warehouses to get
ingredients to make Speed as police bosses consider setting up a specialist
squad in the region to deal with the growing problem.

A top-level crime meeting will be held in Wellington next week to plan the
police attack on manufacturers and users of the Class B drug. One option is
to set up a dedicated squad to investigate the manufacture, distribution and
use of methamphetamine, known on the street as Speed.

In the past month there have been several burglaries and thefts of
over-the-counter cough mixtures containing pseudoephedrine, a precursor drug
used in the manufacture of Speed.

Two drug storage warehouses and two chemists in the Hutt Valley have been
hit by burglars in the past month. There's also been at least three cases of
burglaries or shoplifting at chemists in Wellington City, including a
break-in at Brooklyn pharmacy on Thursday, in which police said a
"considerable" amount of pseudoephedrine was stolen.

Wellington police have busted three methamphetamine labs in the past four
months. Nationally, lab busts jumped from single figures annually to 41 last
year. There have already been 15 busts this year, including one that had
fumes venting into a neighbouring school.

A police spokesman said pharmacists were excellent in contacting officers if
customers attempted to buy suspicious amounts of pseudoephedrine-based cough
products. In some cases, people tried to buy up to five boxes a visit;
"these people do shopping trips all around the country".

Wellington district commander Superintendent John Kelly yesterday confirmed
that having a dedicated squad was an option. He'll seek input from key
advisers at a meeting of CIB heads next week before deciding.

Mr Kelly said the methamphetamine problem was raised as recently as
yesterday afternoon in a district management meeting.

"I certainly identified it as an issue that I need to take a real look at .
. . We'll marshal the resources . . . where they're needed," he said.

Police say methamphetamine use is at epidemic proportions and while there's
money to be made, Speed will be made.

They've only scraped the surface of the manufacturing industry in the
region.

Detective Inspector Gary Knowles, of the police, Customs and health funded
National Drug Intelligence Bureau, described the methamphetamine problem as
trying to put out a bush fire with a garden hose; you got rid of one and
another flared up.

He was optimistic police would manage the problem.

"Cannabis is the predominant drug of choice in New Zealand . . . but
methamphetamine is certainly rising up and clipping at its heels."

Mr Knowles said law changes were being considered, including reclassifying
methamphetamine and looking at police search and seizure powers

Frontline police staff had been given access to an educational video on how
to handle a laboratory if they came across one in general duties. And a
United States-based Drug Enforcement Agency representative will be brought
out for a speaking tour.

Mr Knowles said police also planned to analyse health issues relating to
labs.