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5 Nov. 4:42 am

 

 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?
storyID=3532686&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

'Mum and dad' type drug operations increasing say police

05.11.2003
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.