Wellington Police have arrested and charged four people on a range of drug-related charges after the importation of 20 litres of the Class B drug GBL, commonly known on the streets as fantasy or rinse, following a joint Customs and Police investigation.
At the end of April Customs intercepted the package which was destined for an address in Lower Hutt from China.
Police and Customs allowed the package to proceed beyond the border and a joint investigation was launched.
Four people have been arrested and charged with drug-related offences including two males aged 50 and 40 years and two females aged 39 and 35.
The main charges are importing a class B drug and conspiracy to supply.
The seizure is considered significant and has an estimated street value of $120,000.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch says "These arrests have prevented the distribution of a large quantity of GBL into the community.
"It is often dangerously used in combination with other drugs or alcohol and over doses have occurred in the past. GBL presents significant health risks to users.
"The sole motivation for offending of this type is to make money with no regard to the harm it causes to our communities".
Customs Manager Investigations, Mark Day says Customs is always on the lookout for harmful drugs, it doesn’t matter how people try to import drugs, whether it is through the mail, by freight or in person we make every effort to keep these harmful substances off our streets and away from our communities.
“Our joint work with Police ensures that drugs and the people who attempt to import them are stopped and these arrests are another great example of the collaborative work between the two agencies,” says Mr Day.
"It is a reminder to people who attempt to bring drugs across the border that we are watching and we will pursue you".
ENDS
Summary of charges:
• A 50-year-old male appeared in Wellington District Court yesterday on charges of importing a Class B drug [GBL] and conspiracy to supply. He has been remanded in custody due to reappear on 29 May.
• A 40-year-old male is due to appear in Wellington District Court today on charges of importing a Class B drug [GBL] conspiracy to supply and an unrelated charge of possession of a Class A [amphetamine] drug for supply.
• A 39-year-old female appeared in the Hutt District Court yesterday on charges of possession of a Class A drug [methamphetamine] for supply, supplying Class A drug [methamphetamine] and possession of a Class A drug [LSD]. She is due to reappear on 21 May.
• A 35-year-old female has appeared in the Wellington District Court yesterday on a charge of importing a Class B drug [GBL]. She is due to reappear on 29 May.
For Police media queries please contact Nick Bohm, Wellington District Communications Manager, on 027 559 2235.
For Customs media queries please contact Nicky Elliott, on 029 251 3167 or nicky.elliott@customs.govt.nz.