Heroin use and availability on the rise—police

Press, 6 November 1978, Page 2

Heroin use and availability on the rise—police

PA Wellington Illicit drugs, particularly heroin, are becoming more readily available in New Zealand, according to the Director of Crime Prevention at police national headquarters, Detective Chief Superintendent M. T. Churches. Mr Churches said that in the first nine months of this year 2386 persons had been charged with drug related offences, compared with 1875 for the whole of last year. Heroin related charges to September 30 were 212, compared with 235 during -the whole of 1977. Mr Churches said that charges connected with prescription poisons and cannabis were increasing, but LSD cases were down and cocaine related charges similar to last year's.

Drug dealers were turning to heroin because it was less bulky than cannabis and easier to get into New Zealand. and was more profitable. he said. Mr Churches said that the “Golden Triangle’’ of South-, East Asia was still the main source of heroin supply to New Zealand. Cocaine came! from South America, while hashish resin and oil came! from Afghanistan. India, or; Pakistan. A lot of cannabis was now home-grown, but users preferred the overseas product. Mr Churches said that there was now more violence i within the drug scene. “A buyer carrying thousands of dollars wants to protect himself, and a seller carrying a valuable commodity also wants to protect himself.” he said.