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Police investigating video of Otara boys 'smoking drugs'

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 13 Feb 2019, 3:17PM

Police investigating video of Otara boys 'smoking drugs'

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 13 Feb 2019, 3:17PM

Police are investigating disturbing footage of young boys in South Auckland boasting of smoking drugs using homemade bongs and of growing marijuana in pot plants.

The footage posted, to social media earlier this month, shows four young boys who appear to be primary or intermediate school-aged, sitting next to a creek bragging about taking drugs and growing their own weed.

Three homemade bongs can be seen in the video while two of the boys film themselves "smoking weed" and "getting stoney baloney".

One boy claims to be the owner of the paraphernalia while the others argue over who owns the drugs.

In the video, one boy lights up and is seen exhaling a substance from the homemade bong.

In the video, one boy lights up and is seen exhaling a substance from the homemade bong. Photo / Supplied

In the video, one boy lights up and is seen exhaling a substance from the homemade bong. Photo / Supplied

At least two boys appear to be wearing school uniform during the incident while the others have school bags with them.

One boy is heard encouraging the others to "go again" before making fun of them for not being able to properly light up their drugs.

Facing the camera, one boy admits to "smoking weed" while the others ask for help to light up.

The video posted to social media on the weekend and has been viewed more than 219,000 times.

One of the boys allegedly from the group has since posted the video to their Facebook page claiming "I'm fkn famous" after it blew up on Sunday.

In a statement to the Herald, police said the incident was concerning and they are attempting to identify those in the video to provide support.

"Police are not immediately aware of this incident being reported to us. However, this footage is of concern and we are looking into this matter and the exact circumstances around it.

"We are hopeful we can identify the boys through enquiries and provide them with any support they might need through our Youth Aid Section and community support partners.

"We urge anyone who sees Facebook or social media posts of concern, such as this, to contact police as soon as possible."

Shocking footage has emerged of a group of young boys in South Auckland purportedly smoking drugs using homemade bongs. Photo / Supplied

Shocking footage has emerged of a group of young boys in South Auckland purportedly smoking drugs using homemade bongs. Photo / Supplied

Every year thousands of teenagers and adolescents are treated for drug or alcohol addiction, according to figures released under the Official Information Act.

In 2015 more than 2000 children and teens under 18 were seen by alcohol and drug treatment services around the country.

Some DHBs revealed they've seen patients as young as five that have been treated for alcohol or drug addiction in the past five years, while thousands of patients under the age of 15 have been treated for addiction.

In the most recent State of the National report released by the Salvation Army they highlight the "unrelenting rise" of methamphetamine as one of New Zealand's biggest issues.

"As a country this is becoming, possibly, a plague - certainly in some communities," said the report's author and policy analyst Alan Johnson.

"And we need to redouble our efforts to address both the people making and selling the stuff and the people growing addicted to it.

"We've said that before, but it just seems to be something that gets worse year-on-year."

Methamphetamine-related offences made up 45 per cent of all drug convictions in the last year, compared to 18 per cent 10 years ago.

That was partly because police had shifted their focus away from cannabis to meth.

 

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