Robertson H V Ross: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Robertson H V Ross: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:10025] 
9.  
H V ROSS ROBERTSON (Labour—Manukau East) 
 to the  
Minister of Customs 
: Is he satisfied with the performance of the New Zealand Customs Service in relation to drug seizures at Auckland International Airport? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister of Customs) 
: 
 Yes I am. Customs Service staff at Auckland airport are doing an excellent job. Last month staff intercepted 1.2 kilos of heroin at the airport with an estimated street value of $4 million. The heroin was located in the shoes being worn by and carried in the luggage of a traveller from South Africa. Intelligence suggests that its ultimate destination was Australia. We have the sharp eyes and the instincts of our experienced Customs Service staff to thank for the seizure and I am sure our colleagues across the Tasman will be grateful for that. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: Did the Customs Service make any other significant seizures at Auckland International Airport in October? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: Customs Service officers also intercepted 3.2 kilos of ephedrine a primary precursor used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The ephedrine was concealed in tins of baby food formula in the luggage of two Thai male nationals who are both residents of Auckland. The interception resulted in both men being charged with the possession of a precursor substance and with intent to manufacture a controlled drug. To date this year the Customs Service has seized 776900 tablets of pseudoephedrine or the powdered equivalent ephedrine from 374 interceptions. 
Shane Ardern 
: In the light of the Minister’s answer when will the Minister keep an effective list of all methamphetamine precursors imported and make that list available to all appropriate Government departments? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I have not quite got the sense of the question. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: A member is about to leave the Chamber. The Minister is perfectly entitled to have a member repeat a question and I do not want any silly nonsense like there has been today. I ask Shane Ardern to repeat the question. 
Shane Ardern 
: In the light of the Minister’s answer when will the Minister keep an effective recorded list of all methamphetamine precursors that are imported and make that list available to all appropriate Government departments? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: As I understand it there is an effective list. The trouble is that some people tell fibs. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: Why are these recent seizures important? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: These recent seizures are important because they show that the Government investment of an extra $1.9 million into drug intelligence and drug enforcement at the border is working very very effectively. 
Shane Ardern 
: In the light of the Minister’s answer earlier on I seek leave to request the Minister to table that list as an official document as the Minister has used it in his answer. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No the member cannot ask anybody else to table anything. What a Minister chooses to table is his or her own business. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister gave an answer to a question in which he said he understood there was such a register. Members on the Opposition side of the House have certainly never seen such a register nor has anyone heard of it. I invite the Minister to go and check after question time perhaps because I suspect that he will have to come back to the House before the end of the day to correct his answer. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: If he does he will. All I thought the Minister said was that he understood there was a list. Of course he did not quote from it.