Police intercept $500,000 pseudoephedrine haul

Dunedin police and customs have seized nearly $500,000 worth of pseudoephedrine, coming in from China.

Police intercepted five courier packages, Dunedin CIB Detective Hamish Barrons told the Otago Daily Times.

A 25-year-old man, of Chinese origin but with permanent New Zealand residency, was arrested and remanded on bail until July 14.

Executing four warrants, police found 2.2 kilograms of the precursor ingredient for making methamphetamine, addressed to properties in South Dunedin and Kaikorai Valley.

The pseudoephedrine had been derived from flu medication Contact NT, and hidden in courier packages.

Mr Barrons said pseudoephedrine was rarely found imported into Dunedin in such large quantities, with most precursor ingredients found coming into Auckland.

It is believed to be the biggest pseudoephedrine haul in the southern city, with very little of the drug found in the South Island, he said.

Dunedin CIB Detective Sergeant John Hedges said only six P labs had been found so far in Dunedin. About half of those were non-operational when police found them, he said.

Most of the precursor materials intercepted in Dunedin was being taken to meth cooks in Christchurch, he said.

- NZPA