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A Chinese-born New Zealander is facing drugs charges in China which could put him in prison for up to 14 years.
The man had been arrested but the inquiry into the allegations was not complete, said New Zealand police liaison officer in China, Superintendent John Doyle.
The charges were believed to relate to pre-cursor material used to make methamphetamine.
"It looks like it is domestic offending."
Mr Doyle said he believed the charges did not carry the death penalty although it did not require a large amount of drugs to carry the death penalty and the inquiry was not completed.
"If they unearth more serious offending, things could change," he told NZPA.
Mr Doyle said there was no indication the man was attempting to establish a source of drugs for New Zealand. He was believed to have a Chinese wife and children and had been living for some time in China although he was also thought to have travelled on a New Zealand passport.
The man was believed to have been living in Guang Zhou in southern China.
He had been visited by New Zealand Embassy staff.
- NZPA