WELLINGTON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Customs seizures at New Zealand border in 2017 prevented at least 1 billion NZ dollars (728 million U.S. dollars) of potential drug harm to New Zealand communities, Minister of Customs Meka Whaitiri said on Thursday.

Methamphetamine and its precursor ephedrine made up the bulk of the seizures at nearly 897 kg, Whaitiri said in a statement, adding that other interceptions included cocaine, MDMA, cannabis, LSD, Class C analogues, psychoactive substances, plus over 238,000 "items" such as tabs and pills.

The minister praised the customs' work for "stopping over a tonne of illicit drugs entering the country preventing potential harm to New Zealanders."

Keeping methamphetamine off the streets and away from communities should be a big priority, she said, adding that these destructive drugs would have been worth hundreds of millions of dollars on the streets.