Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wellington
T 0800 268 787 | [email address]
justice.govt.nz
5 July 2021
Oscar
[FYI request #15564 email]
Tēnā koe
Official Information Act 1982 request
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 26 May 2021 to the New Zealand
Police seeking information regarding drug offences. On 26 May 2021, part of your request was
transferred to the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) for response. Your request was for the following:
I request a breakdown of the following statistics for the past 5 year period of 2016-2020.
Number of people ……..convicted ………with the following
Possession of a class C drug.
Possession of a class B drug.
Possession of a class A drug.
Possession for supply of a class C drug.
Possession for supply of a class B drug.
Possession for supply of a class A drug.
On 4 June 2021, the Ministry sought clarification from you to identify what ANZSOC divisions may be
relevant to your request. On 4 June you responded, noting the following ANZSOC divisions should be
considered for this response:
102: Deal or traffic in illicit drugs
103: Manufacture or cultivate illicit drugs
104: Possess and/or use illicit drugs
109: Other illicit drug offences
In response to your clarified request, please find attached Table 1 and Table 2. Table 1 provides the
number of people convicted of possession and/or use of classified drugs by class and drug type,
between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2020. Table 2 provides the number of people convicted
of cultivating, selling or distributing classified drugs by class and drug type, between 1 January 2016
and 31 December 2020.
If you require any clarification of the information contained in this response please contact Alison
Horwood, Media Manager, Media and External Relations, by calling (04) 918 8836; or emailing
[email address]
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to complain to the Ombudsman under
section 28(3) of the OIA. You can contact the Office of the Ombudsman by writing to PO Box 10152,
Wellington 6143; calling 0800 802 602; or emailing [email address]
2
I trust that this information assists.
Nāku noa, nā
pp
Jacquelyn Shannon
Group Manager, Courts and Tribunals, Regional Service Delivery
Ref:
88391
Table 1: Number of people convicted of possession and/or use of classified drugs as their most serious offence, by class and drug type, between 1 January
2016 and 31 December 2020
ANZSOC Group
Class
Drug Type
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
104/109: Possess and/or use illicit drugs
Class A
Cocaine
3
5
6
10
6
(including utensils)
Heroin
4
2
1
1
1
LSD
18
22
18
20
18
Methamphetamine
1,591
1,900
2,042
2,249
2,186
Classes B and C,
BZP
3
1
3
0
1
and ‘Unspecified’
Cannabis
1,626
1,549
1,440
1,242
1,013
Ecstasy
11
15
28
36
46
Fantasy
14
18
26
14
15
Morphine
6
14
7
6
5
Opium
0
0
0
0
1
Other opiates
8
6
3
5
2
Stimulants and
19
21
14
13
11
Depressants
Other or unspecified
252
339
229
139
102
drug
Total
3,555
3,892
3,817
3,735
3,407
Notes:
• This data counts a person once per calendar year for their most serious possession and/or use offence each year
• A calendar year is from 1 January to 31 December
• The drug associated with their most serious offence is counted.
• Year is based on the charge outcome date.
4
Table 2: Number of people convicted of cultivating, selling or distributing classified drugs as their most serious offence, by class and drug type, between 1
January 2016 and 31 December 2020
ANZSOC Group
Class
Drug Type
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
102: Deal or traffic in illicit drugs
Class A
Cocaine
0
13
5
14
12
Heroin
0
1
1
0
1
LSD
6
9
10
6
10
Methamphetamine
440
524
512
438
590
Other or unspecified drug
1
0
0
2
0
Classes B and C,
BZP
5
1
1
0
1
and ‘Unspecified’
Cannabis
549
473
421
384
348
Ecstasy
10
4
10
18
26
Fantasy
12
9
5
6
2
Morphine
3
4
0
2
1
Other opiates
2
5
2
0
1
Stimulants and Depressants
23
9
15
3
1
Other or unspecified drug
87
108
106
81
52
103: Manufacture or cultivate illicit drugs
Class A
Cocaine
0
0
1
0
0
Heroin
1
0
0
0
1
Methamphetamine
21
26
30
23
18
Classes B and C,
Cannabis
857
747
710
574
468
and ‘Unspecified’
Fantasy
7
0
1
0
1
Morphine
0
0
0
0
1
Other opiates
0
0
0
0
1
Stimulants and Depressants
0
0
0
0
1
Other or unspecified drug
28
22
27
19
21
Total
2,052
1,955
1,857
1,570
1,557
Notes:
• This data counts a person once per calendar year for their most serious cultivation, supply and/or distribution offence each year.
• A calendar year is from 1 January to 31 December
• Year is based on the charge outcome date.
