Three men arrested over drug importation to Dunedin

A large haul of illegal drugs in Dunedin has seen three men arrested on illegal importation charges.

Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Inglis of the southern organised crime squad said the arrested men, aged 18-20, were involved in the importation of a large quantity of methamphetamine, LSD and Ecstasy, intercepted by a joint police and New Zealand Customs operation.

"After NZ Customs intercepted parcels destined for Dunedin, a joint Police and Customs operation was launched to target the importers of the drugs," he said.

"Evidence suggests these importations had all been sourced through the internet from the United States and Europe in a sophisticated operation and were destined for the local Dunedin market.

"Tens of thousands of dollars' worth of drugs was intercepted although the exact value is unknown."

Inglis said police had seen a marked increase in people using the internet to import illegal drugs in an attempt to make easy money.

"Young people who get involved in these sorts of activities need to think twice about the harm they are causing the community but also about the limiting impact that a serious conviction would have on their future.

"In December last year, a 22-year-old Dunedin offender who had imported illegal drugs over the internet was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment," he said.