Government puts $35m towards keeping drugs out of the country
In a pre-Budget announcement on Saturday, Customs Minister Casey Costello said New Zealand was being increasingly targeted and there were growing challenges.
"Customs is doing a great job stopping illicit drugs entering the country, but New Zealand is increasingly being targeted by organised crime groups. The government is committed to ensuring law and order, so it is investing in the tools and capacity agencies need to meet growing challenges.
"Transnational and serious organised crime threats are growing worldwide. These groups are increasingly targeting the Pacific and New Zealand, which has some of the world's highest prices for illicit drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine.
"In 2014, Customs seized 55kg of methamphetamine in the entire year. Last year Customs stopped, on average, 90kg of meth every week. In the past two years, Customs and its offshore partners stopped nearly 8.5 tonnes of meth from entering the country and harming New Zealanders.
"We know what works to stop the threat from organised crime, and harm from drugs. Decisions at Budget 2025 mean that Customs will have $35 million more over four years to help to do this job even better."
Costello said the extra funding would boost the number of staff and increase the technology that Customs has. It comprises $21 million in operating expenditure and $5.5 million in capital funded through Budget 2025, plus an additional $8.2 million from third party levies and fees.
It will be used to create up to 60 additional roles over the four years.
The funding will focus on three areas: targeting those involved in lower-quantity, high-frequency drug smuggling such as through international mail or airports
improving supply chain security and targeting the "trusted insiders" who use these links to help smuggle drugs
extending Customs' presence overseas, with an additional officer to help with investigations and information sharing.
"While Customs is dealing with increasingly large-scale drug smuggling attempts, it also needs more capacity to investigate and prosecute the smuggling that sends low quantities of drugs in high volumes through international mail and air routes," Costello said.
"This new funding will provide that."
rnz.co.nz
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