A combined Police and Customs operation has resulted in a large imported quantity of the drug precursor pseudoephedrine, in its powder form, being found at a Napier house last night. Drug precursors are chemical substances, such as pseudoephedrine, which are frequently used in the illegal production of methamphetamine or 'P'.

Detective Sergeant Daryl Moore of Napier CIB said Police and Customs staff raided the Napier house late last night.

The joint operation was mounted when Customs intercepted a parcel at the Auckland International Mail Centre. The parcel was addressed to a Napier house and had been posted from Thailand.

Police and Customs also found methamphetamine at the house with an estimated street value of more than $90,000, plus around $2000 worth of cannabis leaf, Mr Moore said.

Mark Day, Customs Manager Drug Investigations said the number of interceptions being made at the border continues to rise.

"In the last five to six years border seizures of such precursors have increased by 1200 percent. "One way we see is importation through the mail and courier services with drugs delivered to private properties.

"This is a trade driven by greed and it feeds off the misery of people in the New Zealand community."

A 54-year-old Hastings man and his 52-year-old Thai national wife are due to appear in the Napier District Court this afternoon. The couple have been charged with:

Importing a Class C controlled drug - pseudoephedrine Possession for supply Class A drug - methamphetamine Possession for supply Class C drug - cannabis