Tougher Drug Policy

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32385, 26 August 1970, Page 26

Tougher Drug Policy

(N.Z. Press Association)' WELLINGTON,. ' August 25. An intensive programme to combat the increasing entry of drugs to New Zealand is to be submitted to the Cabinet by the Minister of Customs (Mr'AdamsSchneider) as a result of a visit to the Far East by the director of preventive services in the Customs Department (Mr M. G. Howley).

The programme includes the appointment of 13 more customs officers to police small ports, such as Tauranga, on a 24-hour, seven-day basis; the use of trained dogs to detect drugs; underwater gear to enable officers to dive into ships’ tanks; and the establishment of an intelligence and information centre at Wellington. There will also be a small team of investigators based

at Wellington and Auckland, radio communication between officers at these ports, and increased night coverage at Auckland and Lyttelton. Mr Howley, who attended seminars at Colombo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, also visited Hong Kong and the Philippines. He returned to New Zealand convinced that intensified methods must be employed to detect narcotics, both on overseas ships and ashore. During 1969, the year after the appointment of special flying squads, there were 12 seizures of narcotics, he said. These were fairly small lots, but added up to a reasonable amount.

During the 12 months ended March, there were 23 seizures, including the first of heroin.

“If you had asked me, or the police, six months ago whether there were any heroin addicts in New Zealand, the answer would have been no,” said Mr Howley. “Since then 17 people have been convicted of the illegal use of heroin."

There had been a significant change in drug abuse in New Zealand. Three years ago the seizures were of small amounts of opium, mainly from Chinese ships, and probably for the crews’ own use.

Mr Howley said dogs were good at sniffing out drugs, and had been used successfully in Europe and Britain. A Wellington officer had a Labrador which he had obtained for this purpose. The dog would be used in house searches, and it was hoped that some arrangement could be made with the Department of Agriculture and the Health Department whereby he could be taken on board ships. Breathing apparatus would be used by officers at Auckland and Wellington, he said. “We have found commercial contraband and hooks for attaching goods in water tanks on ships visiting New Zealand.” A number of radios and watches had been found in waterproof plastic covers when the tanks had been emptied.