'Mum and dad' type drug operations increasing say police

By AINSLEY THOMSON

An increasing amount of the record number of methamphetamine labs busted this year are 'mum and dad' type operations, say police.

Figures released today showed 146 methamphetamine labs have been closed down so far this year compared with 147 for the whole of last year.

And police say the labs which were traditionally the domain of gangs are now commonly being found in the homes of 'mums and dads'.

Detective Sergeant Mike Beal, from the Auckland drug squad, said in the past two years there has been an increasing amount of people trying to manufacture the drug.

"Three or four years ago we had a hard core group of manufacturers. Guys with the nous. What has happened since is the level of knowledge has degenerated."

The labs inside homes was also exposing an increasing amount of children to the toxic chemicals involved.

The risk was highlighted on Saturday when two young children had to be decontaminated after police found them reeking of chemicals in a Hamilton apartment being used as a methamphetamine lab.

Mr Beal said the drug squad had come across labs in family homes where children were sleeping in rooms next to where chemicals were being stored.

"And the manufacturing is taking place on the kitchen bench and the chemicals are being stored in the fridge."

There was also the risk of children being poisoned by consuming the chemicals - many of which are clear liquids, he said.

He was aware of situations of police finding children in labs and having to refer them to have medical check-ups.

"People who have the disposition towards manufacturing and distributing drugs aren't normally the kind of people who have much conscience about their children."

The National Drug Intelligence Bureau say there are no statistics on the numbers of children involved.

However, Detective Inspector Gary Knowles, who heads the bureau, said he was hearing more frequently of labs where children had been present.

Children's Commission Cindy Kiro said the question of how to protect children from the drug industry was something the office of the Commissioner for Children would work more actively with police on.

She said she had met with the Police Commissioner and the Drug Foundation and discussed the problems P was causing children.

Herald Feature: The P epidemic