Chinese pair still on run

A Chinese couple facing drugs charges who skipped bail six weeks ago are still believed to be in New Zealand.

Xie Jianzhong, 36, and Huang Hong Quin, 34, were thought to be seeking a way out of New Zealand after breaching their bail conditions in mid-February.

Xie and Huang face charges of importing drugs to manufacture up to $15 million worth of the drug P.

Police are worried the pair might try to flee to China, either by using false passports or by boat.

But Detective Sheree Gray of the Auckland Drug Squad said police believed they were still in New Zealand.

"We haven't had any confirmed sightings of them," Mrs Gray said

"But our contacts in the community lead us to believe that they are still in New Zealand, either in Tauranga or Auckland."

There were reports of sightings of the couple in Tauranga and Whakatane in late February, though the latter turned out to be incorrect.

- NZPA