ID now needed to buy P ingredient

Manawatu police and pharmacists are joining forces to battle illegal drug production by making it compulsory for people to show ID when buying medication containing pseudoephedrine.

Pseudoephedrine is a vital component in the production of methamphetamine drugs like P, and can be found in over-the-counter cold medicines such as Sudafed and Coldrex.

Police have provided 71 pharmacies in the Central District, which includes Palmerston North, with information about how to identify and deter "pseudo" shoppers.

Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann said the initiative was started because New Zealand had one of the highest methamphetamine rates in the world.

Pharmacists were encouraged to ask for ID and take down the details of anyone requesting the products, especially people they were unfamiliar with, he said.

"Those details should be provided to us so that we can see whether these people are shopping elsewhere or in other districts because pseudo shoppers will travel; its a valuable commodity."

Mr Bensemann said pseudo shoppers would often pay presentable-looking people to purchase the medication for them.

Police would also carry out "secret-shopper" operations at pharmacies to ensure practices were being maintained. "It's not about identifying any particular pharmacy. It's to help us get an appreciation of whether it's working," Mr Bensemann said.

"It's about us working with them."

Palmerston North pharmacist Anthony Roberts, of the Cook St Pharmacy, said asking for details and ID was already common practice in many pharmacies. "Being professionally responsible is something we do in the first place."

Most people were more than happy to provide the ID, he said.

"If you've got a cold it's not a big deal, you just want to get the medication and go back to bed.

"People understand there's an issue surrounding supply and illicit use and that people are making concerted efforts to get large and unrealistic amounts of the drug."

Mr Roberts said an unofficial network of pharmacists was already sharing information, so he hoped most would be wise to some of the buyers' tricks. "It's not uncommon to have three or four people in a car coming in for the same product."

- © Fairfax NZ News