1 00:00:19,059 --> 00:00:19,379 Speaker 1: Kyota. 2 00:00:19,379 --> 00:00:22,139 Speaker 2: I at Chelsea Daniels here, host of the Front Page. 3 00:00:22,379 --> 00:00:25,299 Speaker 2: We're taking away breakover summer, but to help build the gap, 4 00:00:25,579 --> 00:00:28,699 Speaker 2: we're re issuing some of our most significant episodes of 5 00:00:28,739 --> 00:00:32,019 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five on behalf of the Front Page team. 6 00:00:32,138 --> 00:00:34,619 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening and we look forward to being back 7 00:00:34,659 --> 00:00:37,539 Speaker 2: with you on January twelfth, twenty twenty six. 8 00:00:43,059 --> 00:00:43,538 Speaker 3: Kyoda. 9 00:00:43,619 --> 00:00:46,899 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels, and this is the Front Page, a 10 00:00:46,979 --> 00:00:54,419 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. You might 11 00:00:54,499 --> 00:00:58,059 Speaker 2: look on Facebook Marketplace for a new couch, a lamp, 12 00:00:58,139 --> 00:01:02,659 Speaker 2: a rug, but what about Class A drugs or how 13 00:01:02,659 --> 00:01:06,899 Speaker 2: about a ghost gun. Herald investigation has revealed at least 14 00:01:07,019 --> 00:01:12,059 Speaker 2: fifty six listings were circulating on the site offering magic mushrooms, 15 00:01:12,219 --> 00:01:16,779 Speaker 2: cannabis and in one case LSD across the North Island 16 00:01:16,899 --> 00:01:19,339 Speaker 2: and Top of the South and that could be just 17 00:01:19,459 --> 00:01:23,339 Speaker 2: the tip of the iceberg of illicit sales on social media. 18 00:01:23,938 --> 00:01:27,138 Speaker 2: So how do we get on top of this enzid 19 00:01:27,219 --> 00:01:31,018 Speaker 2: Herald's senior investigative reporter, Michael Mora has been looking into 20 00:01:31,059 --> 00:01:39,018 Speaker 2: this and joins us today on the Front Page. Michael, 21 00:01:39,098 --> 00:01:41,419 Speaker 2: how did this first capture your attention? 22 00:01:42,499 --> 00:01:42,658 Speaker 4: Well? 23 00:01:42,699 --> 00:01:45,859 Speaker 5: I was contacted by a bay of plenty man who 24 00:01:46,739 --> 00:01:53,739 Speaker 5: essentially said there are multiple listings on Facebook Marketplace for drugs, 25 00:01:54,059 --> 00:01:59,618 Speaker 5: and these listings then linked to encrypted Telegram accounts. I 26 00:01:59,699 --> 00:02:05,178 Speaker 5: contacted some of these dealers on Facebook Marketplace, and you'd 27 00:02:05,179 --> 00:02:09,138 Speaker 5: go to the encrypted Telegram account and then from the outset, 28 00:02:09,779 --> 00:02:12,419 Speaker 5: from what it looked like it was just magic mushrooms 29 00:02:12,419 --> 00:02:15,139 Speaker 5: being sold. But when you went to the Telegram account 30 00:02:15,379 --> 00:02:17,979 Speaker 5: and asked for a full menu that you were then 31 00:02:18,059 --> 00:02:23,138 Speaker 5: supplied with a list of many other A class drugs. 32 00:02:23,379 --> 00:02:27,578 Speaker 2: It's interesting that they've chosen to advertise mushrooms, but that's 33 00:02:27,578 --> 00:02:29,978 Speaker 2: actually a class A drug in itself, isn't it. 34 00:02:30,099 --> 00:02:30,339 Speaker 1: Yeah. 35 00:02:30,418 --> 00:02:36,338 Speaker 5: I think it's potentially because those peddling these drugs think 36 00:02:36,379 --> 00:02:40,779 Speaker 5: that mushrooms is a more innocuous term than perhaps using 37 00:02:40,858 --> 00:02:46,699 Speaker 5: cocaine or methanphetamine or whatever else. But it seems clear 38 00:02:46,858 --> 00:02:51,019 Speaker 5: that the ad for mushrooms is just a gateway to 39 00:02:51,219 --> 00:02:56,379 Speaker 5: then offer the visitor any other form of drugs that 40 00:02:56,459 --> 00:03:00,978 Speaker 5: they want. Now, I was unable to verify whether in 41 00:03:01,019 --> 00:03:05,619 Speaker 5: fact these drugs could indeed be purchased, but the very 42 00:03:05,899 --> 00:03:10,219 Speaker 5: fact that these are advertised on Facebook Marketplace a very 43 00:03:10,538 --> 00:03:14,539 Speaker 5: very open platform would suggest that if you indeed were 44 00:03:14,858 --> 00:03:18,899 Speaker 5: a legitimate seller, you could do this because it exposes 45 00:03:18,939 --> 00:03:22,499 Speaker 5: a loophole, regardless of it whether these people on marketplace 46 00:03:22,858 --> 00:03:27,619 Speaker 5: are scammers or legitimate sellers of Class A drugs, it 47 00:03:27,698 --> 00:03:30,499 Speaker 5: shows that on Facebook marketplace you can do it and 48 00:03:30,538 --> 00:03:31,219 Speaker 5: get away with it. 49 00:03:31,459 --> 00:03:31,579 Speaker 4: Right. 50 00:03:31,578 --> 00:03:35,019 Speaker 2: So what do these listings actually say? They've got like mushrooms? 51 00:03:35,179 --> 00:03:36,659 Speaker 2: And then it has what. 52 00:03:36,979 --> 00:03:42,939 Speaker 5: I've seen listings that included drugs for sale, including pictures, 53 00:03:43,219 --> 00:03:50,659 Speaker 5: images of magic mushrooms, cannabis, tabs of LSD gummies for 54 00:03:50,779 --> 00:03:54,819 Speaker 5: sale as well. And then when you link to the 55 00:03:54,899 --> 00:03:59,299 Speaker 5: telegram account, you're supplied with a full menu of any 56 00:03:59,419 --> 00:04:06,779 Speaker 5: type of drug you can imagine, including ayahuasca, masculine cocaine, MDMA, 57 00:04:07,259 --> 00:04:08,139 Speaker 5: et cetera, et cetera. 58 00:04:08,579 --> 00:04:12,059 Speaker 2: Wow, and so Telegram, I'm assuming they use that because 59 00:04:12,059 --> 00:04:13,619 Speaker 2: it's encrypted, one. 60 00:04:13,459 --> 00:04:16,459 Speaker 1: Of those absolutely yeah. Encrypted. 61 00:04:16,499 --> 00:04:20,058 Speaker 5: So, like I say, I believe that these very open 62 00:04:20,579 --> 00:04:25,459 Speaker 5: advertisements for mushrooms essentially to get lots of eyes onto 63 00:04:25,819 --> 00:04:29,659 Speaker 5: a product and a legal product, to then lead the 64 00:04:29,979 --> 00:04:33,859 Speaker 5: visitor to this other menu and the supply of other drugs. 65 00:04:34,099 --> 00:04:36,899 Speaker 2: It took me all of about a minute this morning 66 00:04:36,979 --> 00:04:39,739 Speaker 2: to find one of these ads on Facebook Marketplace that 67 00:04:39,819 --> 00:04:42,419 Speaker 2: you told me about, and it didn't take very much 68 00:04:42,619 --> 00:04:45,299 Speaker 2: like snooping as well. Then I saw another one. Then 69 00:04:45,339 --> 00:04:47,579 Speaker 2: I scrolled down a little further and I think I 70 00:04:47,659 --> 00:04:50,179 Speaker 2: counted up to like forty of them, and all of 71 00:04:50,179 --> 00:04:53,299 Speaker 2: them listed either today, yesterday, within the last couple of days. 72 00:04:53,339 --> 00:04:54,939 Speaker 1: I mean, is it just a case of whack. 73 00:04:54,739 --> 00:04:55,579 Speaker 2: A mole out there? 74 00:04:55,779 --> 00:04:58,339 Speaker 5: I think so, And I mean that's what really surprised 75 00:04:58,379 --> 00:05:03,579 Speaker 5: me about this situation. I mean, you know, police and 76 00:05:04,339 --> 00:05:06,779 Speaker 5: other authorities have said for some time that we're seeing 77 00:05:07,259 --> 00:05:10,979 Speaker 5: an increasing number of drug sales on social media. But 78 00:05:11,099 --> 00:05:13,459 Speaker 5: what surprised me about this was just how open and 79 00:05:13,659 --> 00:05:18,019 Speaker 5: blatant the dealers were being. And when I initially was 80 00:05:18,099 --> 00:05:21,738 Speaker 5: reviewing Facebook Marketplace, I counted a total of fifty six 81 00:05:22,019 --> 00:05:26,979 Speaker 5: different listings from the far north right down to the 82 00:05:27,059 --> 00:05:32,058 Speaker 5: Tasmin region, Nelson and picton all saying we've got various 83 00:05:32,139 --> 00:05:36,099 Speaker 5: drugs available and you can pick them up or we 84 00:05:36,179 --> 00:05:39,379 Speaker 5: can deliver. So I was pretty surprised by that, and 85 00:05:39,419 --> 00:05:41,859 Speaker 5: of course I got in touch with Meta, which is 86 00:05:41,939 --> 00:05:46,979 Speaker 5: the owner of Facebook, and after sending several links to 87 00:05:47,139 --> 00:05:50,819 Speaker 5: them and screenshots, they said they would then act to 88 00:05:51,619 --> 00:05:54,059 Speaker 5: remove those illegal accounts. 89 00:05:54,419 --> 00:05:56,499 Speaker 2: Who else have you spoken to about this? I mean, 90 00:05:56,619 --> 00:05:59,899 Speaker 2: I can't imagine the New Zealand Drug Foundation would be 91 00:05:59,939 --> 00:06:00,779 Speaker 2: too happy about it. 92 00:06:00,979 --> 00:06:04,219 Speaker 5: They do think there are obvious inherent risks with this. 93 00:06:04,819 --> 00:06:08,579 Speaker 5: They talk about the risk with magic mushrooms, for example, 94 00:06:08,779 --> 00:06:13,259 Speaker 5: is in the CEO Sarah Halm's words, the risk is 95 00:06:14,059 --> 00:06:16,779 Speaker 5: identification of the mushroom. 96 00:06:16,899 --> 00:06:17,059 Speaker 1: Right. 97 00:06:17,459 --> 00:06:20,179 Speaker 5: If you get the wrong one and you don't know 98 00:06:20,219 --> 00:06:24,499 Speaker 5: what it is, that can be very risky. But in general, 99 00:06:24,579 --> 00:06:28,618 Speaker 5: the active ingredient in magic mushrooms is not something, she says, 100 00:06:29,419 --> 00:06:32,379 Speaker 5: that could have fatal consequences. But she says the other 101 00:06:32,539 --> 00:06:35,739 Speaker 5: issue with Marketplace, of course, is that it exposes people, 102 00:06:35,779 --> 00:06:38,979 Speaker 5: including young people who go on to these sites, to 103 00:06:40,339 --> 00:06:43,699 Speaker 5: material that they otherwise would not be exposed to. That 104 00:06:43,819 --> 00:06:46,619 Speaker 5: is one of the concerns. The other key. 105 00:06:46,419 --> 00:06:48,619 Speaker 1: Concern of the Drug Foundation, of course, is. 106 00:06:48,539 --> 00:06:50,819 Speaker 5: That they are an entity that is set up to 107 00:06:51,539 --> 00:06:56,259 Speaker 5: promote and give information about drug harm reduction. That is 108 00:06:56,299 --> 00:06:58,339 Speaker 5: one of their core things. You know, you see them 109 00:06:58,339 --> 00:07:02,499 Speaker 5: talking about drug testing at festivals and promoting information about 110 00:07:02,619 --> 00:07:07,219 Speaker 5: new and emerging drugs if they're dangerous or lethal, to 111 00:07:07,259 --> 00:07:09,899 Speaker 5: put that information out on social media. Some of the 112 00:07:09,939 --> 00:07:12,939 Speaker 5: information they are promoting is funded by the Ministry of 113 00:07:12,979 --> 00:07:16,179 Speaker 5: Health by Health New Zealand, and what we know is 114 00:07:16,219 --> 00:07:20,939 Speaker 5: that surprisingly some of their drug harm reduction messaging is 115 00:07:21,019 --> 00:07:25,979 Speaker 5: being blocked by Meta because they flag it as problematic. 116 00:07:26,459 --> 00:07:27,939 Speaker 1: And that is, in. 117 00:07:27,819 --> 00:07:32,659 Speaker 5: Sarah Helm's words from the Drug Foundation, ironic considering that 118 00:07:32,779 --> 00:07:38,979 Speaker 5: you have dealers supposedly openly promoting the sale of drugs online. 119 00:07:39,299 --> 00:07:42,259 Speaker 2: Isn't that incredible? I mean, I suppose if you type 120 00:07:42,259 --> 00:07:44,859 Speaker 2: in I'm going to sell a gram of cocaine, it'll 121 00:07:44,899 --> 00:07:47,379 Speaker 2: be it'll pop up with it with a flag being like, oh, 122 00:07:47,419 --> 00:07:49,259 Speaker 2: no cocaine, but mushrooms. 123 00:07:49,899 --> 00:07:54,459 Speaker 1: I guess maybe a word that isn't it is more innocuous. 124 00:07:54,499 --> 00:07:55,459 Speaker 1: I suppose maybe that's why. 125 00:07:55,659 --> 00:07:58,299 Speaker 5: Well, that's right, And I mean, my original source for 126 00:07:58,339 --> 00:08:02,059 Speaker 5: this story said that he was really frustrated Worth Meta, 127 00:08:02,459 --> 00:08:07,939 Speaker 5: the owner of Facebook, because he reported dozens and dozens 128 00:08:07,979 --> 00:08:11,739 Speaker 5: of these listings over at the course of several weeks. 129 00:08:11,779 --> 00:08:13,579 Speaker 5: So you can go to the listings and click on 130 00:08:13,619 --> 00:08:16,059 Speaker 5: little three dots and go down and report this as 131 00:08:16,459 --> 00:08:20,699 Speaker 5: a dangerous or problematic listing, and what happened he says, 132 00:08:21,019 --> 00:08:25,179 Speaker 5: absolutely nothing. So of course, when I contacted Meta, perhaps 133 00:08:25,259 --> 00:08:29,059 Speaker 5: because they were risks they risked being embarrassed by a journalist. 134 00:08:29,139 --> 00:08:32,659 Speaker 5: They said they were taken taking action to remove some 135 00:08:32,699 --> 00:08:35,699 Speaker 5: of these listings. But the interesting thing, as you point out, is, 136 00:08:36,139 --> 00:08:39,259 Speaker 5: as you've discovered this morning, these listings are still up there. 137 00:08:39,379 --> 00:08:42,699 Speaker 5: It does raise a question as to whether Meta is 138 00:08:42,859 --> 00:08:49,779 Speaker 5: really prioritizing the detection and removal of illegal drugs on 139 00:08:49,819 --> 00:08:54,618 Speaker 5: its websites or whether it lets them slip because it 140 00:08:54,699 --> 00:08:56,859 Speaker 5: drives traffic and ultimately profits. 141 00:08:59,858 --> 00:09:05,419 Speaker 4: As far as drug use, I don't judge anyone, but 142 00:09:06,578 --> 00:09:08,939 Speaker 4: you know, like it has to be off social media. 143 00:09:09,899 --> 00:09:12,898 Speaker 4: It's got to get off social media. Why do you 144 00:09:12,939 --> 00:09:16,019 Speaker 4: say that, Well, you know, there's a lot of kids 145 00:09:16,059 --> 00:09:18,578 Speaker 4: on social media. There's a lot of impressionable people on 146 00:09:18,618 --> 00:09:20,259 Speaker 4: social media. There are a lot of people who have 147 00:09:20,338 --> 00:09:26,218 Speaker 4: never used this an iconic in their life. Do we 148 00:09:26,338 --> 00:09:28,379 Speaker 4: really want to be turning people who have never touched 149 00:09:28,458 --> 00:09:34,298 Speaker 4: drugs into attics because they're curious and it's suddenly easily accessible. 150 00:09:38,059 --> 00:09:41,338 Speaker 2: Well, you've actually met a dealer. Hey, what did they 151 00:09:41,419 --> 00:09:41,979 Speaker 2: say about this? 152 00:09:42,259 --> 00:09:46,738 Speaker 5: Yeah, So, following that initial story that we did on 153 00:09:47,098 --> 00:09:51,458 Speaker 5: the Facebook marketplace, I've been in touch with a former 154 00:09:51,659 --> 00:09:57,939 Speaker 5: dealer who used Meta products to sell drugs, including cannabis, 155 00:09:58,338 --> 00:10:02,899 Speaker 5: LSD MDMA I have verified through the courts that he 156 00:10:03,179 --> 00:10:09,379 Speaker 5: has a whole series of criminal convictions for drugs, and 157 00:10:10,139 --> 00:10:14,699 Speaker 5: he says that what most of the public won't be 158 00:10:14,699 --> 00:10:18,899 Speaker 5: aware of is that there is so much available now 159 00:10:19,338 --> 00:10:22,978 Speaker 5: on social media and it is any drug you can 160 00:10:23,019 --> 00:10:23,979 Speaker 5: think of, if you. 161 00:10:24,019 --> 00:10:26,538 Speaker 1: Want it, it's out there and it's available. 162 00:10:26,858 --> 00:10:30,179 Speaker 2: And did he say something like, because you mentioned before 163 00:10:30,779 --> 00:10:34,258 Speaker 2: they offered delivery as well, it's like an uber for drugs. 164 00:10:34,498 --> 00:10:37,978 Speaker 5: Well, in his words, it's as easy as ordering a pizza. 165 00:10:38,259 --> 00:10:41,138 Speaker 1: It is, you know, uber for drugs. 166 00:10:41,419 --> 00:10:46,179 Speaker 5: He says that in his experience he felt bulletproof when 167 00:10:46,218 --> 00:10:50,219 Speaker 5: he was using private groups on Facebook Messenger. That's the 168 00:10:50,218 --> 00:10:52,978 Speaker 5: platform he used, not marketplace. He was a bit more 169 00:10:53,019 --> 00:10:56,659 Speaker 5: stealthy than that. He used private groups on Facebook Messenger 170 00:10:56,779 --> 00:10:58,978 Speaker 5: to deal his drugs. But he said he felt bulletproof 171 00:10:59,019 --> 00:11:02,898 Speaker 5: because at no stage did his accounts ever get disabled, 172 00:11:03,019 --> 00:11:06,659 Speaker 5: At no stage did he believe police or anyone else 173 00:11:06,699 --> 00:11:10,058 Speaker 5: could get into those groups, because he oversaw the membership 174 00:11:10,259 --> 00:11:11,379 Speaker 5: of those groups. 175 00:11:11,059 --> 00:11:12,419 Speaker 1: So he felt completely safe. 176 00:11:12,458 --> 00:11:14,098 Speaker 5: And he has said that he is not aware of 177 00:11:14,139 --> 00:11:18,339 Speaker 5: any other groups, of which are many around the country 178 00:11:18,338 --> 00:11:20,619 Speaker 5: that are selling a legal products. He's not aware of 179 00:11:20,659 --> 00:11:22,858 Speaker 5: any of those groups being removed either. 180 00:11:29,858 --> 00:11:32,459 Speaker 2: It's not just drugs, is it, though? Can you get 181 00:11:32,458 --> 00:11:35,859 Speaker 2: things like other nefarious items on Facebook marketplace? 182 00:11:36,019 --> 00:11:40,299 Speaker 5: Well, according to my contact, the former drug dealer, who 183 00:11:40,299 --> 00:11:43,259 Speaker 5: says he's now out of the game, you can. You 184 00:11:43,299 --> 00:11:47,978 Speaker 5: can get firearms, including what he says is a hugely 185 00:11:48,858 --> 00:11:54,019 Speaker 5: popular drive towards three D printed guns. Now these weapons, 186 00:11:54,019 --> 00:11:57,738 Speaker 5: you may have heard about them before. You get a blueprint. 187 00:11:58,419 --> 00:12:02,819 Speaker 5: It goes into a printer and you can create parts 188 00:12:02,858 --> 00:12:05,659 Speaker 5: made from plastic that are capable of. 189 00:12:05,618 --> 00:12:07,298 Speaker 1: Firing real rounds. 190 00:12:07,779 --> 00:12:11,578 Speaker 5: We know because I've done reports in the past few 191 00:12:11,618 --> 00:12:15,779 Speaker 5: months about police raising the alarm about a ramping up 192 00:12:16,059 --> 00:12:20,219 Speaker 5: of three D manufactured firearms in New Zealand and those 193 00:12:20,259 --> 00:12:24,059 Speaker 5: guns being linked to organized crime. There are documented cases. 194 00:12:24,139 --> 00:12:26,819 Speaker 5: My colleague Jared Savage has done extensive reporting on this 195 00:12:26,939 --> 00:12:31,539 Speaker 5: as well, where criminals, including in twenty twenty three or 196 00:12:31,539 --> 00:12:35,819 Speaker 5: five h one DEPORTI was arrested by police for manufacturing 197 00:12:36,179 --> 00:12:39,459 Speaker 5: three D printed pistols. I have been unable to verify 198 00:12:39,899 --> 00:12:43,859 Speaker 5: if in fact there are legitimate sellers of three D 199 00:12:43,978 --> 00:12:48,819 Speaker 5: guns on social media, but my source says absolutely there 200 00:12:48,858 --> 00:12:53,019 Speaker 5: are more and more of these firearms groups popping up, 201 00:12:53,139 --> 00:12:58,819 Speaker 5: he says, on social media where they show images and 202 00:12:59,019 --> 00:13:01,739 Speaker 5: video of three D printed guns and offer. 203 00:13:01,498 --> 00:13:02,098 Speaker 1: Them for sale. 204 00:13:02,379 --> 00:13:05,498 Speaker 2: Well, and do we call them ghost guns as well? 205 00:13:05,578 --> 00:13:07,699 Speaker 1: Is that another here? Yeah, I mean it's just another term. 206 00:13:07,819 --> 00:13:11,138 Speaker 5: Essentially, a ghost gun is anything that a firearm that 207 00:13:11,299 --> 00:13:15,259 Speaker 5: is privately manufactured that does not have a serial number 208 00:13:15,338 --> 00:13:18,858 Speaker 5: and therefore is untraceable. So a ghost gun could be 209 00:13:19,259 --> 00:13:23,019 Speaker 5: several parts of real firearms which are put together to 210 00:13:23,098 --> 00:13:26,099 Speaker 5: manufacture something that works, or a ghost gun could be 211 00:13:26,139 --> 00:13:28,179 Speaker 5: a three D printed guns that can't be traced. 212 00:13:30,978 --> 00:13:33,939 Speaker 3: That's the sort of the stuff that really puts pressure 213 00:13:34,059 --> 00:13:37,218 Speaker 3: on organizations that aren't doing the right thing. And certainly, 214 00:13:37,779 --> 00:13:41,299 Speaker 3: as Minister of Justice, I'll be asking some tough questions 215 00:13:41,379 --> 00:13:45,138 Speaker 3: about what how this is happening, what's going on ultimately? 216 00:13:45,458 --> 00:13:48,739 Speaker 3: You know, decisions around prosecution are things for police and 217 00:13:48,779 --> 00:13:51,218 Speaker 3: authorities to make. A night count as a politician interfere 218 00:13:51,259 --> 00:13:52,898 Speaker 3: with that. But you know, on the surface of it, 219 00:13:52,899 --> 00:13:53,659 Speaker 3: it's outrageous. 220 00:13:56,458 --> 00:13:59,739 Speaker 2: So have you heard from police or even ministers responsible 221 00:13:59,738 --> 00:14:00,018 Speaker 2: at all? 222 00:14:00,618 --> 00:14:04,699 Speaker 5: Well, Look, I've spoken to police briefly and they have 223 00:14:04,779 --> 00:14:09,379 Speaker 5: sent me a statement about the illegal says in general 224 00:14:09,419 --> 00:14:13,419 Speaker 5: and they are saying that indeed, it is an increasing issue, 225 00:14:13,578 --> 00:14:17,539 Speaker 5: basically putting this down to know more digital use in 226 00:14:17,578 --> 00:14:22,699 Speaker 5: our worlds, that illegal sales are increasing. They're also saying 227 00:14:22,739 --> 00:14:26,339 Speaker 5: that the use of encrypted apps does make it more 228 00:14:26,339 --> 00:14:30,699 Speaker 5: difficult for police to investigate because they're end to end encrypted, 229 00:14:31,339 --> 00:14:33,659 Speaker 5: and saying that police are urging anyone in the public 230 00:14:33,699 --> 00:14:37,219 Speaker 5: who becomes aware of suspicious material being sold on social 231 00:14:37,259 --> 00:14:40,059 Speaker 5: media to get in touch because they say that they 232 00:14:40,099 --> 00:14:44,099 Speaker 5: will investigate. I interviewed last week on Herald Now the 233 00:14:44,179 --> 00:14:50,699 Speaker 5: Justice Minicipaul Goldsmith about the Facebook marketplace advertisements, the apparent 234 00:14:51,219 --> 00:14:55,059 Speaker 5: in action from Meta according to my contact in the 235 00:14:55,099 --> 00:14:57,459 Speaker 5: Bay of Plenty, and he said it was, on the 236 00:14:57,499 --> 00:15:00,859 Speaker 5: face of it, outrageous and that he would be talking 237 00:15:00,899 --> 00:15:05,179 Speaker 5: to Meta about this and seeking an explanation and asking, 238 00:15:05,179 --> 00:15:08,459 Speaker 5: in his words, some hard questions of why this multi 239 00:15:08,459 --> 00:15:11,898 Speaker 5: billion dollar tech company is not doing a better job 240 00:15:11,899 --> 00:15:15,179 Speaker 5: of restricting the sales of illegal drugs. 241 00:15:15,739 --> 00:15:18,099 Speaker 2: It's pretty hard to get Meta to do anything, though, 242 00:15:18,219 --> 00:15:18,579 Speaker 2: isn't it. 243 00:15:19,099 --> 00:15:23,138 Speaker 5: Well, Look, I don't work for Meta, but certainly from 244 00:15:23,219 --> 00:15:27,899 Speaker 5: my experience and when I inquired with Meta as to 245 00:15:28,419 --> 00:15:31,819 Speaker 5: why they had removed some listings. When I contacted them, 246 00:15:32,099 --> 00:15:36,379 Speaker 5: but why they did nothing when you know, my contact 247 00:15:36,499 --> 00:15:39,539 Speaker 5: Joe Blogs down in the Bay of Plenty, reported dozens 248 00:15:39,579 --> 00:15:42,699 Speaker 5: of these. They said, we're not sure why this didn't 249 00:15:42,779 --> 00:15:47,019 Speaker 5: result in anything happening. We're looking into that. That's all 250 00:15:47,059 --> 00:15:47,539 Speaker 5: I can. 251 00:15:47,459 --> 00:15:49,699 Speaker 1: Really explain that they have no. 252 00:15:49,739 --> 00:15:52,499 Speaker 5: Real explanation for why they did not act on this 253 00:15:52,579 --> 00:15:53,859 Speaker 5: issue until I got in touch. 254 00:15:54,179 --> 00:15:56,099 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, Michael Pleasure. 255 00:15:56,379 --> 00:15:56,699 Speaker 1: Thank you. 256 00:16:00,179 --> 00:16:03,379 Speaker 2: That's it for this episode of the Front Page. You 257 00:16:03,419 --> 00:16:07,339 Speaker 2: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 258 00:16:07,579 --> 00:16:11,379 Speaker 2: at enzidherld dot co dot mzad. The Front Page is 259 00:16:11,459 --> 00:16:15,219 Speaker 2: produced by Ethan Sells and Richard Martin, who is also 260 00:16:15,419 --> 00:16:19,539 Speaker 2: our editor. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe I'm to the Front 261 00:16:19,579 --> 00:16:23,139 Speaker 2: Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and 262 00:16:23,259 --> 00:16:26,939 Speaker 2: tune in tomorrow for another look behind the headlines.