Stolen gear ideal for making illicit drugs

Thieves are suspected of taking high- tech equipment from Northland businesses for the purposes of making the illicit party drug speed.

Fonterra's NZMP dairy factory site at Kauri and Northland Polytechnic have fallen prey to thieves suspected of taking items used to make the drug. A distillation unit was stolen from a Fonterra NZMP laboratory.

Police believe the lab equipment has been moved out of Northland to be used for manufacturing methamphetamine - commonly known as speed, or in its pure form as P.

Hikurangi Constable Gavin Bennie said the Rotavapor unit was taken from an unlocked laboratory at Kauri on June 19.

The Rotavapor is a distillation unit that can evaporate solvent at a much faster rate than other systems.

Illegal drug manufacturers are believed to have incorporated the equipment into their drug-making processes.

Northland police drug boss Detective Sergeant Grant Smith was concerned about the most recent theft.

"As police slowly clamp down on the legitimate sources this equipment can be bought from they will turn to other places for the gear," he said.

Northland Polytechnic in Raumanga was also broken into and glassware stolen.

Mr Smith said household glassware has been seized by police from speed labs in Northland, as well as commercial chemistry glassware.

- NZPA