Drug haul from ship

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 1

Drug haul from ship

Customs officers seized hashish with a street value estimated about $25,000 from the container ship New Zealand Star at Lyttelton yesterday, the second find of drugs in the vessel this week. The 750 g of hashish was found in two plastic bags in the ship’s hold, said the chief customs officer' (enforcement) in Christchurch, Mr Brian Ford. Some of the hashish had been cut into small blocks and wrapped in plastic which tended to indicate that the drug had been packed for release in New Zealand, said Mr Ford. One of the bags contained a large uncut block of hashish. Officers also seized a knife and a “bong” pipe, often used for smoking the drug. “Inquiries are continuing into the ownership of the hashish,” said Mr Ford. Customs officers searching the New Zealand Star after she berthed at New Plymouth on Sunday found about I.2kg of cannabis resin, or hashish, and a white packet suspected of containing heroin. No-one was arrested. ’ About 800 g of hashish and cannabis was seized in her sister ship, the Australia Star, at New Plymouth 11 days ago. “The find at New Plymouth inspired the search at Lyttelton,” said Mr Ford.. A rummage team comprising 11 officers and two customs drug dogs, boarded the vessel soon after she arrived at Lyttelton from New Plymouth about 10.30 a.m. yesterday. The drugs were found in the morning. Searches of the vessel continued until she left port, said Mr Ford. The ship sailed for Melbourne at 9 p.m. No more drugs were found. The jiew Zealand Star is owned by the Blue Star Line and is a regular caller at Lyttelton. She has an English crew.