KEY POINTS:
Customs officers have made another massive drugs bust, seizing chemicals that could have been used to make $13 million of methamphetamine, found hidden inside 80 bicycles.
The chemicals, which weighed 44.8kg, were detected by Customs on a container ship that had arrived from China, using x-ray screening equipment and a subsequent extensive physical examination.
"The intercepted precursors were well concealed in bicycles and destined for our local market. They had the potential to be manufactured into 13kg of the drug 'P', with a potential value of $13 million," says Customs Investigations Manager Bill Perry.
A Chinese male on a work permit has been arrested and charged over the seizure.
The latest arrest follows a bust of more than $50m in methamphetamine and precursors last month.
"The continued demand for 'P' in the New Zealand market is driving organised criminal groups towards increasingly complex concealment," Perry said.
On average, Customs reports a drug interception a day with almost 90 per cent of them being precursors for the manufacture of methamphetamine.
"We are finding precursors concealed in every importation pathway and in all forms of concealment from mail, to air and sea freight, express parcels and with passengers at airports."
"This kind of shipment involves groups who are well networked and entrepreneurial. These groups have seen a niche in our local market and they will continue to try and find new and inventive ways to conceal their illegal trade," Perry says.
Police Detective Inspector Bruce Good says interceptions of methamphetamine precursors show that 'P' manufacturing in New Zealand remains widespread.
