Officials destroy millions of dollars worth of drugs

It's the stuff of nightmares for drug barons - millions of dollars of illegal substances shredded, wasted and neutered.

Officials have this week destroyed hundreds of kilograms of drugs, making the haul "undesirable, worthless and irretrievable".

Customs says the planned liquidation included 843 packages, filling 25 rubbish bags and seven boxes and weighing 445kg.

This was bulked up by 231kg of methamphetamine and its precursors - potentially worth up to $177m.

Also destroyed were smaller seizures of heroin, ecstasy, LSD mimics such as NBome, cannabis products, synthetic drugs and date-rape drug GBL.

Customs says the planned liquidation filled 25 rubbish bags and seven boxes. Photo / Supplied via NZ Customs

A grow your own magic mushroom kit also met its end.

Customs says the destruction happened in a "secure environment" where drugs were shredded, mixed with waste material and processed in high-pressure steamers to neutralise them and turn them to waste.

Customs cargo operations manager Bruce Berry said drugs were destroyed on a regular basis and the 445-kilogram haul represented a few months' worth of seizures.

"It is extremely satisfying turning millions of dollars' worth of drugs into worthless and irretrievable waste that cannot harm our communities," Mr Berry said.

"Stopping drugs is what Customs officers strive to do. They make seizures daily - big and small. Whether it's in a mailed envelope, or in a passenger's pocket - it all counts."