Police probe meth smuggling in kava packets 

Source: ONE News

Police in Fiji and New Zealand are investigating allegations that drug traffickers at Nadi International Airport have been packing methamphetamine in bags of powdered kava sent to Auckland.

The Fiji Times on Monday quoted a source as saying that three airport workers had been sent home after their implication in drug trafficking activities, and more suspensions were expected.

The group, which reportedly included officials from the police airport unit and Immigration Department, were said to have been trafficking the drug for some time.

The drugs were hidden inside bags of powdered kava sent to Auckland.

The newspaper said the drugs were transferred on a particular flight and members of the group often changed their work roster to be on duty at those times.

The head of the Police Drug Unit, Inspector Sakeo Ganivatu, confirmed an investigation was underway, saying that more details may be released soon.

Meth decisions next month

Meanwhile, the government will announce next month how it is going to deal with the methamphetamine menace, Prime Minister John Key says.

It could mean a ban on across the counter sales of cold tablets that use pseudoephedrine, the chemical used to make the drug known as "P".

Key's chief science adviser, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, last month delivered a report on methampetamine precursors and one of his recommendations was a cold pill ban .

"Cabinet has decided to consider decisions on pseudoephedrine regulations as part of a broader package," Key said at his post-cabinet press conference on Monday.

"It is the advice of both Professor Gluckman and the working group led by my department that to be effective in cracking down on P, increased limitations on the availability of pseudoephedrine should be supported by a range of other interventions."

Key said policy work on possible interventions was continuing.

"I will bring to Cabinet a comprehensive package of recommendations designed to beef up the Government's response to P later this month," he said.

"I expect to make an announcement in October."