INDEPENDENT NEWS

Hit gangs in their ‘P’, ‘P’ for pockets!

Published: Thu 16 Oct 2003 05:18 PM
Marc My Words…
From Marc Alexander MP. 17 October 2003
United Future NZ-Christchurch Supplement
Hit gangs in their ‘P’, ‘P’ for pockets!
There is no doubt that drugs are a major social problem; none less so, than the insidious ‘P’. ‘P’ is the name given to the powder or crystal form of methamphetamine. The drug is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant that affects the nervous system giving a physiological and psychological reaction similar to adrenalin.
The drug is relatively cheap and easy to produce but can cost addicts upwards of $1000 per day to maintain. It’s not difficult to realise that the natural accompaniment to such a drug addiction is crime, often the only source of revenue to feed the ‘habit’. And it is Gangs that organise, distribute and profit from ‘P’.
During May this year, ninety members of our police raided the headquarters of the ‘Filthy Few Gang’ in Matamata. They found methamphetamines, cannabis and chemicals used to manufacture drugs. Apart from finding a .45 calibre revolver and a .25 calibre semi-automatic pistol, the saddest indictment was the arrest of a thirteen year old for drug possession. When he should have been in school he was working for the gang!
What we urgently need is a strategy to deal with the scourge of the drug and gang problem in a way that hurts them where they are most vulnerable; their money. What’s needed are laws that reflect Western Australia’s successful legislative initiative that allows authorities to confiscate all assets not proven to be obtained lawfully.
The traditional deterrent of prison sentences is inadequate since most of these thugs conduct their operations from prison and have access to their ill gotten gains upon release.
I believe strongly that we should charge these drug profiteers not only with possession but also with the consequences that flow from their ‘chosen’ profession, (such as the crimes of their customers), and have their possessions confiscated also. The proceeds of such confiscations could then be redirected to help victims of crime. It’s high time that we stopped pussy-footing and made the problem a source for the solution.
Let’s make these dealers in human misery pay the full price of their actions. Crime should pay…and pay…and pay!
ENDS

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