The Herald's War on P series last year produced an overwhelming reaction from readers and a swift response from the Government. This week, we revisit the people and the issues to find out what has changed.
For the first time, Customs has seized more than one tonne of the ingredient used to make the drug P in a single year.
The one tonne mark was passed in November, and 1.29 tonnes of pseudoephedrine had been intercepted by the end of December.
Customs Minister Maurice Williamson said
the milestone highlighted Customs' good work at the border but also underlined the determination of drug smugglers.
"2008 was a record year for intercepting precursors and the provisional figures now show that 2009 surpassed 2008 by over 66 per cent," said Mr Williamson.
He said the amount of pseudoephedrine seized last year was enough to manufacture at least 246kg of methamphetamine, or 'P', which would cause the community about $138.6 million dollars of harm, compared with $83 million the year before and $33 million five years ago.
The harm is measured by the damage the drug creates in the community including crimes committed by people while under its influence and health costs for addicts.
"The number of interceptions being made at the border continues to rise and there is little doubt that all of the intercepted pseudoephedrine was going to be used to manufacture methamphetamine."
Mr Williamson said initial evidence from Police and Customs officers was that the price of the drug had started to rise, suggesting the seizures at borders were having an effect on suppliers.
A Customs spokesman said the substances were intercepted using a variety of methods including x-ray machines and sniffer dogs.
He said there were several triggers that alerted officers to the presence of drugs in packages but he would not reveal them.
The bulk of the drugs Customs intercepted came in shipping containers. But smaller, and more frequent, loads came through the mail centre.
In 2004 ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were classified as Class C drugs, controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977.
They do have legitimate uses, including as an ingredient of cold medicines. But pharmacies must hold a licence to sell them.
The figures for last year also showed that in the six months between June and November Customs detained nearly 1000 people for drug offences.
As well, 450 people were detained during the same period for carrying drug paraphernalia and 265 for weapons-related offences.
Offences against the Convention in Trade and Endangered Species resulted in 415 detentions. These relate to products of animals such as antelope, snake, tortoise and whale.
There were about 250 detentions for suspected intellectual property rights violations.
Methods of concealing illicit items varied.
Examples included US$5000 in suspected counterfeit cash from Nigeria hidden inside the front and back of book covers covered by carbon paper, imitation top-brand socks and underwear hidden inside tyres, pornographic DVDs hidden behind other DVDs and loose tobacco concealed in tea packs.
Other items illegal goods had been found inside were chess pieces, shoe soles, light fixtures, cellphones, a foot spa, electronic goods, paint tubes and shoe polish tins.
"We've found drugs sewn into blankets," the Customs spokesman said.
"In children's bikes, paint tins, the list just goes on.
"Concealments are limited only by your imagination really ... People are getting more and more innovative all the time. As soon as we crack one method of concealment they move on to another. It's a constant exercise for us of investigation and intelligence."
THE LONG HAUL
Pseudoephedrine seized:
For 2009
Amount seized: 1.29 tonnes.
Potential meth yield: 246kg.
Potential harm: $138.6 million.
Detentions
From June to November 2009
For drug offences: 980.
Drug paraphernalia: 450.
Weapons offences: 265.
Convention in Trade and Endangered Species breaches: 415.
Intellectual Property Rights breaches: 250.
