Police and Customs intercept $3 million of P precursor

A combined Police and Customs operation has resulted in the interception of 67 kg of the drug precursor Contac NT. A wholesale value of approx $3 million.

Drug precursors are chemical substances, such as pseudoephedrine, which are frequently used in the illegal production of the deadly drug, methamphetamine or ‘P’.

Detective Sergeant Chris Cahill of the Auckland Metro Drug Squad said the seizure was as a result of several months of investigation.

“It involved an organised group of Chinese drug importers who were supplying ContacNT to methamphetamine manufacturers in Auckland.

“The large seizure was located in a container arriving through the Ports of Auckland. It contained Chinese granite that had secret compartments which concealed the ContacNT.

Mark Day, Customs Manager Investigations said the ContacNT was capable of being converted into between 13 and 20 kilograms of pure methamphetamine or P.

“That represents between 5.5 and 8.2 million dollars of harm to the New Zealand community that has been prevented. This is a really significant seizure and it’s just another example of the on-going attack on high level methamphetamine drug dealing in response to the Government’s methamphetamine action plan

“It’s a great example of agencies working together to combine their resources and skills to achieve outstanding results. This will have a significant effect on the availability of methamphetamine in Auckland and possibly greater New Zealand.”

As a result of the operation, five men aged between 17 and 22 have been charged with possession of pseudoephedrine for supply and importing pseudoephedrine. One person was remanded in custody and the other four were released on bail to appear in the Auckland District Court on 8 March. Of the five arrested all were born in Mainland China. Three are in New Zealand on student visas, two are permanent New Zealand residents.

Police and Customs reiterated warnings to Asian students to avoid becoming involved with drug gangs who will use them to facilitate their drug dealing activities.

ENDS

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