10 Mar 2010

Millions of dollars of P ingredient seized

5:40 am on 10 March 2010

New Zealand authorities have seized millions of dollars worth of the key ingredient for the drug methamphetamine, or P, being smuggled into the country hidden inside granite slabs.

The police and Customs sting focused on a group of Chinese drug importers supplying ContacNT to methamphetamine manufacturers in Auckland.

They found 67kg of ContacNTstashed in hollowed out compartments in the granite slabs in a container at the Ports of Auckland.

They say that amount of ContacNT has a street value of about $3 million, and could make 13-20kg of pure methamphetamine.

The finished product would have been worth between $5.5 and $8.2 million.

The Customs Service say the seizure will have a significant effect on the availability of the drug in Auckland, and possibly nationwide.

Police have charged five men aged between 17 and 22 with possession of pseudoephedrine for supply and importing pseudoephedrine.

They say all the men are originally from mainland China, with three in New Zealand on student visas, and the remaining two permanent residents.

Detective Sergeant Chris Cahill says Asian international students are being targeted by gangs.

He says police are working with immigration officials and international language schools to deal with the problem.