Pubdate: Fri, 21 Nov 2003
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2003 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: NZPA

MORE COURT APPEARANCES AFTER INTERNATIONAL PARTY DRUGS BUST

More of the eight people arrested in Manukau, Wellington and Christchurch 
yesterday as part of an international drugs syndicate bust were due to 
appear in court today on a wide range of charges.

They included importing and conspiring to import LSD, supplying LSD, 
cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, cannabis and its products, and money 
laundering, police said.

Police said the syndicate had links to New Zealand's dance scene.

One Canadian national would appear in Manukau District Court and two New 
Zealand men, a Canadian woman and an American man were due in Wellington 
District Court, Wellington police spokeswoman Kaye Calder said.

Two New Zealanders and a Canadian appeared in Christchurch District Court 
yesterday afternoon.

One of those three, a company director involved in the management of one of 
the country's biggest New Year parties -- the Alpine Unity festival at 
Flock Hill Station near Arthur's Pass -- was remanded in custody for a week.

"These events attract young people who like to dance, like to party, some 
drink, some like to experiment with drugs. It is often an avenue of using 
drugs," Wellington Organised Crime Unit boss Detective Senior Sergeant Paul 
Berry told National Radio today.

The festival's future is now in doubt. Tickets for the event from December 
31 until February 2 ranged from $100 to $155 and a large number have 
already been sold.

"I'd be surprised if Alpine went ahead. The principals have been arrested 
on serious drugs charges and police will be opposing bail," Mr Berry said.

New Zealand agencies were backed up by counterparts in Australia, the 
United States and Canada during the investigation, which included a 
five-month bugging operation.

Properties in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland were raided by Customs 
and police officers about 9am yesterday.

Items seized in the raids included LSD, small quantities of ecstasy, 
equipment to make methamphetamine and chemicals that Environmental Science 
and Research scientists and the Christchurch drug squad would analyse.

There were no arrests overseas.

This week, Canadian Mounties intercepted packages containing 6000 tabs of 
LSD with a street value of about $240,000 heading for New Zealand.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart