9. SHANE ARDERN (National—Taranaki - King Country) Link to this
to the Minister of Customs
What reports has he received on seizures of pure methamphetamine at the border?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (Minister of Customs) Link to this
In operations for the first 6 months of this year, the Customs Service reports that it intercepted approximately 14 kilograms of pure methamphetamine or P at the border, involving 14 incidents. That compares with just under 200 grams for the same time period last year, involving only three incidents. For all of 2009, the Customs Service intercepted just under 11 kilograms of P involving 12 incidents.
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
The situation in respect of precursor is even better. For the first 6 months of this year, the Customs Service reports that it seized 630 kilograms of methamphetamine or P precursor at the border. That amount of precursor would produce up to 178 kilograms of P, with a street value of around $178 million, and cause around $72 million worth of harm to the community. Last year the Customs Service intercepted a record amount of 1.2 tonnes of the precursor, strangling the supply to those who would peddle the P scourge to our communities.