Seven charged after party pill sting in Otago

Several people have been arrested following a police crackdown on companies selling party pills to under 18s in Queenstown and Arrowtown.

Sergeant Callum McNeill said over recent months they had been concerned with the "apparent ease" in which young people had been able to buy the pills and other benzylpiperazine (BZP) products in the area.

The week-long operation, which ended yesterday, saw seven people charged with selling the "herbal highs" to a 16-year-old high school student, Mr McNeill said.

The maximum penalty for the offence was a $2000 fine.

Others were given warnings about selling party pills which had the R18 warning, but did not contain BZP, to the 16-year-old.

"Police hope that these prosecutions will act as a deterrent to those people who sell these products and would like to see everyone under the age of 25-years asked for identification," Mr McNeill said.

He added that similar stings will be carried out in the future.

- NZPA