Customs cuts will assist P smugglers - Labour

Funding cuts in border surveillance will make it easier to smuggle P ingredients into New Zealand, despite the Government's promises to do the opposite, says Labour.

Thursday's Budget slashed up to $3.5 million for surveillance and incursion response from the biosecurity appropriation.

The Customs' surveillance search and containment fund was also reduced.

Labour's biosecurity spokesman Damien O'Connor says the Government's decision was "shocking", given the significant dangers of the drug methamphetamine and when the Government had previously made stamping out P manufacture a top priority.

The Customs surveillance cuts came when the country's borders were under increasing pressure, he said.

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson could not be contacted yesterday.

Prime Minister John Key said this week methamphetamine was "a $1.5 billion problem. It's wrecking lives and it's wrecking families."

Pharmacy Guild chief executive Annabel Young said a significant amount of P - or the ingredients to manufacture the drug - was coming across the border.

Mr O'Connor said: "Reduced surveillance powers will only exacerbate this already terrible problem."