WELLINGTON: Wellington Police and New Zealand Customs have undertaken a joint investigation targeting the importers of psychoactive substances and controlled drugs ordered over the internet.
Operation Venus has resulted in the seizure of dozens of small packages over past months. they were destined for addresses all around the Wellington region.
Packages have contained methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoid, Ecstasy, and Alpha PVP. Last month, police and Customs staff executed search warrants at six addresses in the Hutt Valley and Porirua, resulting in the arrests of four people and the seizure of significant quantities of synthetic cannabinoid.
Those people have been charged with offences including importation of psychoactive substances, possession of psychoactive substances with intent to supply, and cultivating cannabis.
Police are continuing to investigate several of the importations and further arrests are possible.
Customs investigations manager Maurice O’Brien said the community should be reassured that Customs had some excellent layered border security processes in place to disrupt small internet-facilitated importations and were working with police to ensure those responsible were held accountable for their actions.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch, head of the Wellington Organised Crime team, said the issue of people importing drugs over the internet continued to plague the community.
“Police and Customs are determined to disrupt this activity as much as possible to help prevent the significant harm that these substances cause to our communities,” he said.
Since the increased restrictions of psychoactive substances in 2014 there has been a surge in the unlawful importation of these harmful substances.
“People engaged in such activity cannot hide behind the apparent anonymity of the internet and face the risk of criminal convictions and possible imprisonment for importing these substances,” Leitch said.
