Record seizures show our plan to eradicate P is working

Hon John Key

P, or methamphetamine, is a dangerous and addictive drug ruining lives, tearing families apart, and costing our communities.

The drug comes hand in hand with violence. It allows gangs and organised crime to flourish. And it entices young people into crime.

In early October I outlined the National-led Government's Action Plan on methamphetamine. This includes a range of initiatives to tackle P from all directions, including:

• Restricting access to precursor materials that go into making P, such as the pseudoephedrine sold in over-the-counter cold medicines

• Cracking down on P dealers through new dedicated anti-drug taskforces at the border and a new police P control strategy,

• Introducing new police powers to intercept gang communications, search for evidence, and seize drug profits.

• Increasing addiction services to improve rehabilitation options for P treatment.

• Providing more support for families of P-addicts through community action programmes.

• Making government Chief Executives accountable for getting results.

Early signs show that our Action Plan is working.

In an intensive period from the start of October through to November, Customs intercepted a total of 230kg of pseudoephedrine at the border. This is more than three times the 67kg intercepted during the same period last year. Fifteen arrests were also made.

Customs advises that this is the most successful eight weeks of seizures on record. It prevented what would have been an estimated $84 million worth of P hitting the streets with the consequent harm that causes.

The pseudoephedrine that has been seized comes from a large number of interceptions of smaller amounts of the precursor, not through large hauls.

The success of this work can be seen not just in the amounts being seized, but also through anecdotal evidence that the price of the drug has increased on the streets.

Part of our Government Action Plan has involved the redeployment of up to 40 Customs staff from other duties to aid in the effort. More than 140 Customs staff are now involved.

Criminals should be warned that Government agencies will be keeping up the pressure to stop precursors like pseudoephedrine entering New Zealand.

National is determined to use the full force of the Government's arsenal to fight the problem of P. We will continue implementing the Government Action Plan and look at new equipment, new tactics, and new ways to combat the trade.

If results from the first few months are anything to go by, our plan is already making life more difficult for the manufacturers, the sellers and the users of this harmful drug.

But to ensure that we continue to stamp out P, it's vital that every New Zealander - including those from our ethnic communities - report any suspected incidents of importing, manufacturing, or selling P to your local police.

By working together, we can help keep P off our streets, reduce the influence of P dealers, and make our communities safer for Kiwi families.