Customs seizes $7m of P

A customs operation in Auckland has seized $7 million worth of methamphetamine, or P, in its last two weeks.

The New Zealand Customs Service had been targeting organised crime syndicates who imported pseudoephedrine.

Officers made a total of 26 interceptions recovering more than 46kg of the drug, which if processed into P had a street value of at least $7 million, Customs drug investigations manager Bruce Berry said.

The drug was mostly in the form of the Chinese cold and flu medication, ContacNT.

Seven people had been arrested and were facing charges including importation and possession for supply of the drug, Mr Berry said.

"The number of interceptions being made at the border continues to rise and there is little doubt that all of the intercepted pseudoephedrine was going to be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

"These importations are coordinated by organised crime syndicates that are in this for the money and have no thought for the impact these drugs have on our community as a whole."

One tactic groups used was to have the drugs delivered by mail or courier to properties or rooms rented exclusively for that purpose, Mr Berry said.

"We encourage landlords who are subletting rooms or accommodation to ensure they seek sufficient identification and contact details to protect themselves from being drawn unnecessarily into our investigations."

He asked for people to report suspicious activity to Customs.

- NZPA