World's biggest traffickers have links with NZ

Mr Asia was 'tiddly-winks' compared to what is happening now in New Zealand.

The arrest overseas of two men described as being among the world's biggest smugglers has revealed the extent of New Zealand's entanglement in the international drug market.

A Herald investigation has revealed that the men, facing serious drug trafficking charges in Hong Kong and the United States, have New Zealand links.

The country has also become a haven for people police say are "key international high-impact" operators.

New Zealand connections with the highest echelons of foreign drug cartels show how the drug scene has changed in the past five years, dwarfing infamous networks like "Mr Asia" in the 1970s.

Supply networks are under the control of the international gangsters, working in tandem with local criminals profiting from drug distribution. The development has prompted Customs and police investigators to adopt a policy of taking the drug fight overseas, working closely with foreign colleagues to nab traffickers.

In December, international co-operation led to the arrest of Wong Moon Chi, a Chinese 44-year-old living in Cambodia under an assumed name. Detectives from the Auckland Metro Crime services unit were involved in the Wong investigation.

He was extradited to Hong Kong and faces 10 drug charges, including counts relating to the trafficking of 200kg of methamphetamine.

A United Nations anti-drug official said he was "one of the biggest fish in the [drug] world".

It is believed Wong has travelled to New Zealand under another name.

"Although the arrest of Wong did not take place in New Zealand, nor were there any drug seizures in New Zealand, the result is very significant for New Zealand law enforcement because of Wong's established connections here," said Superintendent Ted Cox, Auckland Metro Crime commander. New Zealand agencies also took a close interest in the case of another man accused of large-scale trafficking.

Kuang-Hua Chen was arrested in February in Sydney and has been charged with conspiracy to import the methamphetamine drug Ice and a new designer substance called dimethylamphetamine.

"It is alleged Mr Chen is a long-standing prolific drug trafficker, responsible for the importation of large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine into a number of countries," said Australian Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison.

Chen, 45, from Taiwan, is fighting extradition to the United States.

Police sources said Chen had tentacles reaching into New Zealand too.

International smugglers from Asia had based themselves in New Zealand for several years because they see it as a haven.

"They conduct their international operations from here, and we're talking big money," said a senior officer.

While the traffickers have not been particularly targeting New Zealand as a drug market, their arrival did coincide with the explosion of amphetamine and methamphetamine drugs in this country.

Overseas supply is controlled by cartels rivalling the notorious Mr Asia syndicate of the late 1970s. Between 1976 and 1978, the syndicate smuggled 30kg of heroin into New Zealand using air couriers.

"Everyone talks about the Mr Asia syndicate," said a drug intelligence officer. "That was tiddly-winks compared with what's happening now.

"Mr Asia was one syndicate ... Now we've got them coming from all over the place."