11. CHESTER BORROWS (National—Whanganui) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
Have there been any successful operations recently in the fight by this Government against the scourge of methamphetamine?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) Link to this
Yes, I am very pleased to advise that Operation Rapid, a joint operation between the New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service, last week resulted in the interception of a shipment of methamphetamine worth up to $6 million on the street. That interception sends a strong signal to crime bosses who want to bring drugs into New Zealand that we will be working very hard to put them out of business.
What effect would those drugs have had on our communities if it were not for the determined efforts of those two agencies, the Police and the Customs Service, and their working so successfully together?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The effect on our community would have been devastating. Not only does methamphetamine ruin the lives of those who use it and their families, but also there are many disturbing downstream effects, which include identity theft, corruption, violence, and drug-related property crime. The methamphetamine trade also pumps millions of dollars into the pockets of organised crime. Police expect that this seizure and the subsequent arrests will have a major impact on the supply of P across New Zealand.