News

A 21-year-old male student from Otago Polytechnic has been charged with importing class A and class B controlled drugs. The recent drug haul, which found LSD and MDMA (ecstasy) on Monday 11 August, had an estimated value of between $3,000 and $7,000 for the LSD and approximately $50,000 for the MDMA.

Critic spoke to Detective Hamish Barrons of the Southern District Organised Crime Squad about how the product was found. “The arrest was as a result of three importations that were intended for Dunedin," said Barrons. The drugs were sourced online from Germany and the United Kingdom, but were intercepted at the Auckland Mail Centre. This resulted in the surveillance of a PO BOX and two search warrants being executed by Police and Customs.

Barrons contends that the drugs were for a commercial enterprise. He believes they were intended for mixing with other products and sold in capsules on the Dunedin market. The student is facing a number of other charges in connection to the drug seize on top of charges for importing Class A and B drugs, and is possibly looking at a number of years in prison.

Drug Foundation Executive Director Ross Bell described the drug haul as unusual in terms of LSD. "They're not commonly seen in New Zealand; there is not a huge market for LSD but it seems to be beginning to see a comeback," he said. Bell remarked that this kind of drug find is quite rare, but spoke of the health risks of the student market that drugs were likely intended for. "We are going to end up with a lot of novice users or people who do not know how to stay safe ... People need to be careful."

The ecstasy was seized in a crystalline form, but it is thought that this would be "cut down" and mixed with undesirable products. It is worth about $450 per gram in the crystalline form.

The student appeared in the Dunedin District Court on Tuesday morning. The standard sentence for this level of drug importation depends on the person’s criminal history.

"The thing is that he is only 21 but dealing with drugs in such high quantities. He will probably end up with a pretty harsh sentence," said Bell. "This will affect everything; his employment, his travel, for the rest of his life. That is the reality."

Bell reminds those who do choose to take drugs, such as LSD and ecstasy, to do so in a safe environment and to be in the right frame of mind. He also pointed out that when dealing with ecstasy to do so in moderation, especially those doing it for the first time.

Karen Heine from OUSA Student Support urges those with issues to seek support. "People can absolutely come to Student Support to have a chat about what they're going through and the various avenues of support available to them," she said.