More meth labs busted
AUCKLAND: The closure of New Zealand’s borders due to the Covid19 pandemic has forced criminals to rethink supply lines for hard drugs, says a sociologist and organised crime expert.
In the six months to the end of June, Customs seized about 109kg of methamphetamine, down from 590kg for the corresponding period last year.
The seizure of meth precursors, including ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, also dropped significantly.
Police busted 38 meth labs between January and June, 15 more than last year.
Sociologist Jarrod Gilbert said it appeared criminals had adapted to not being able to use people to carry drugs into the country.
‘‘When demand doesn’t change, but the supply side is reduced, then you’ll find different ways to supply the market, and this is the illicit drugs market, so the rise of clandestine meth labs, I think, was predictable and now we are seeing it in the data.’’
Mr Gilbert said organised crime would be behind the labs.
‘‘It’s easy to say it’s just gangs and gangs obviously overlap with organised crime, particularly when it comes to drugs, but the drug market is bigger than just gangs and it’s important that we recognise that and in particular those international links. If we just look at our local hoods, we’re only seeing half the picture.’’
Mr Gilbert expected lab busts to become more prevalent, despite it being far cheaper and easier to import drugs if people could find supply routes.
‘‘It may be there are changes to the way drugs come across the border, so we may see the market adapt like that, but I think if you’re a betting person then you would suggest that clan labs would continue to have a presence in the post Covid environment.
‘‘While we have a demand for methamphetamine, for example, and illicit drugs more generally, there will always be a supply for that, regardless of how good the police and customs are at trying to stop it.’’
Methamphetamine prices continue to be inflated, according to the National Drug Intelligence Bureau.
The drug is reported to be selling for more than $1000 a gram and $10,000 an ounce — double the average preCovid19 price.
Also, drug dealers have become more inventive in their delivery methods which include mailbox dropoffs, dealing in supermarket car parks, dealers using bicycles, and ‘‘tradie’’ vehicles used during lockdown restrictions. — RNZ