Australia suspects N.Z. cocaine connection

Press, 2 August 1985, Page 12

Australia suspects N.Z. cocaine connection

NZPA-AAP Sydney Cocaine imports into Australia are increasing, Australian Customs Service (A.C.S.) officers having seized 7kg of the drug at Sydney Airport over the last two months. A Customs Service spokesman, Mr Mark Butcher, yesterday said the A.C.S. had made four seizings of cocaine, totalling 7kg, at Kingsford Smith Airport since May 31 this year. This was 80 per cent of the 12.5 kg seized in the whole of last year, he said.

“The figures show that we are experiencing an upsurge in cocaine importation,” said Mr Butler. Though unable to estimate the value of the seized cocaine, he said it would be in “the million dollar range.” The A.C.S. believes there is a New Zealand-Chile link in the recent import of cocaine into Australia. Mr Butler said most of the cocaine was coming from Chile and other South American countries, and traffickers were flying back to Australia via New Zea-

land to “fool” the Customs Service. An Argentinian airline began direct flights between Chile and New Zealand on December 18,1984, and drug traffickers seemed to be taking advantage of this link. People arriving in New Zealand aboard the Argentinian airline could then catch connecting flights to Australia. Australia Federal Police believe the drug is used mainly by trendy wealthy people in Australia.