NZ visit strengthens ties with China
This week’s visit to ESR (the Institute of Environmental Science and Research) by a Chinese police forensic and anti-narcotics delegation is further evidence of the increasing international cooperation to combat crime using a wide range of forensic science expertise.

The visit was arranged by the New Zealand Police to strengthen ties with China and continue dialogue on how the two countries can cooperate to tackle the threat posed by the importation of materials used for the manufacture of illegal drugs in New Zealand, particularly ContacNT.

The delegation included the Chief of China’s Drug Intelligence and Forensic Centre, Mr Xu Guang Han, and the country’s top expert on the identification and analysis of illicit drugs, Lead Chemist Dr Zhen Dong Hua.

As well as touring ESR’s forensic laboratories in Auckland and Wellington the delegation held discussions around drug purity analysis techniques and heard presentations on New Zealand’s Psychoactive Substances Act and several initiatives underway.

ESR General Manager Forensic Dr Keith Bedford said the visit was important to ESR.

“With the increasingly global nature of criminal networks it’s vital that New Zealand maintains its strong international networks and that forensic science services providers cooperate and share information on trends and techniques.”

ESR is the sole forensic science provider to the New Zealand Police and routinely identifies illicit drugs and related materials for them.

ENDS

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