A 34-year-old Greymouth woman has been charged with importing 9kg of methamphetamine.
Senior Sergeant Mark Kirkwood said the importing charge was among a raft of 14 others the woman faced.
She appeared in the Greymouth District Court yesterday where police opposed bail.
Among the other charges is one of supplying 14 ounces of the drug and another of conspiring to supply 20 ounces.
Police became suspicious when the woman was stopped ‘‘randomly’’ in her vehicle in Greymouth, followed by a court warrant to search her home address.
Snr Sgt Kirkwood said the scourge of methamphetamine — particularly those peddling the drug — and its impact on the community continued to be a prime focus for police on the West Coast.
Monday’s haul was an example of the prevalence of meth in the region, he said.
‘‘We’re trying our hardest to effect real change ... we spend a lot of time and effort trying to hold these people to account.’’
Anyone caught up with meth or beholden to those peddling the drug could approach the police anonymously to seek help, he said.
Police had empathy for those tangled up with meth and were aware of the stranglehold the drug could have.
‘‘When you see people lose their businesses, their jobs because of meth, it’s not good times.
‘‘It’s a really destructive drug, but there are plenty of people and organisations to help get people through.
‘‘The meth [problem] is just burgeoning but we’re doing what we can.’’
Greymouth Mayor Tania Gibson said it was good to hear police were making inroads.
Meth was a particular ‘‘worry’’ for impressionable young people ‘‘and the results keep going up from wastewater drug testing’’.
‘‘It’s a troubling thing.’’
