Latest news with #0800WEPROTECT
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Auckland Man Sentenced For Smuggling Card-Skimming Equipment
Press Release – New Zealand Customs Service This sentencing concludes a case in which a second man, also a 21-year-old from Auckland, was sentenced in the Auckland District Court in November 2024 to 10 months home detention for the same charges. A Customs investigation has resulted in the sentencing of a 21-year-old Auckland man to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision for smuggling card-skimming equipment. The defendant appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday (4 June 2025) and was convicted for knowingly importing goods for dishonest purposes under the Customs and Excise Act 2018 and possessing goods designed with intent to facilitate the commission of crimes involving dishonesty under the Crimes Act 1961. This sentencing concludes a case in which a second man, also a 21-year-old from Auckland, was sentenced in the Auckland District Court in November 2024 to 10 months' home detention for the same charges. Customs officers intercepted an air freight package in April 2023, that hid a card-skimming device sent from the United States. Further investigations identified that between March and July 2023, the defendants had smuggled up to 12 packages into New Zealand, which contained ATM card-skimming equipment. This was concealed in low-value electronic goods such as air fryers, used laptops, and TV antennas. The packages were sent to fictitious names at parcel collection lockers throughout Auckland. The two defendants then targeted ATMs and parking machines, including at a hospital carpark. A Customs search at the home address of the man sentenced today unveiled evidence including retail rewards cards which held skimmed bank data, and a cash counting machine. Further analysis by Customs Electronic Forensic Investigators identified card-reading software on the man's laptop. In total NZ$60,477.61 had been successfully withdrawn by the two men, with a further NZ$21,500 of attempted or declined withdrawals. Chief Customs Officer – Fraud and Prohibition, Nigel Barnes, said Customs takes card-skimming crimes very seriously and is actively investigating and prosecuting the criminal syndicates operating in New Zealand. 'Card-skimming is a financial crime that directly targets unsuspecting New Zealanders going about their daily business, and which causes a lot of stress for victims when they discover their card has been used to withdraw large sums without their knowledge. 'Customs will do our part in stopping these devices getting into New Zealand, and prosecuting those involved in bringing them in,' Mr Barnes says. Tips to keep yourself safe Do a quick assessment of an ATM before using it to check that nothing looks tampered with; Cover the keypad when you're entering a PIN; If you suspect your card has been skimmed, block your card immediately and contact your bank. Visit Customs' Border Protect webpage or call Customs on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) confidentially, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, if you have information regarding unusual or suspicious activity.
Scoop
16-05-2025
- Scoop
Man Sentenced To 4 Years & 9 Months' Imprisonment Following Customs Investigation Into Child Sexual Abuse Material
A 49-year-old Timaru man was today sentenced at the Christchurch District Court for his involvement in the online sexual exploitation of children. He received four-years and nine-months' imprisonment following a Customs investigation which began last year. On 20 August 2024, the defendant arrived at Christchurch International Airport when returning from a holiday overseas. He was spoken to and searched by Customs officers and, as a result, 306 child sexual abuse files were located on his phone. He was arrested and a search warrant was subsequently executed at his home address by Customs investigators from the Child Exploitation Operations Team. At this search warrant, another hard drive was located in a drawer, with at least 173,000 child sexual exploitation material files. Further forensic analysis by Customs specialists from the Electronic Forensic Unit identified the man had distributed child sexual abuse files even while on holiday overseas. Customs also charged him for that offending. The man's collection had been curated over a number of years and included at least 33 hours of video of the worst category of material, involving the rape and sexual abuse of hundreds of children from around the world. Chief Customs Officer – Child Exploitation Operations Team, Simon Peterson, said cases like this cause devastating and ongoing harm to child victims. "This offending is horrific. It's crucial to realise these are not just images or videos being censored because they are not good for public consumption. The proliferation of child sexual abuse material amongst clandestine global online networks has a much more profound effect on the victims themselves, every day. 'We continue to work closely with our colleagues at New Zealand Police and the Department of Internal Affairs, as well as our offshore partners, to combat this despicable trade and protect our border and vulnerable children all over the world, from those involved in it.' If you have concerns or suspicions about someone who may be trading in, or producing child sexual abuse images or videos, contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If you are, or know of, someone who is at risk or being abused, contact the Police immediately.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Scoop
Customs Seizes 90 Kilograms Of Methamphetamine Across Two Flights In 12 Hours
Press Release – New Zealand Customs Service It is estimated that these two seizures of methamphetamine would have had a street value of up to NZ$34 million and caused up to NZ$95 million in potential harm and cost to New Zealand. Customs officers have seized an estimated 90.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in four abandoned bags across two flights in under 12 hours at Auckland International Airport over the weekend. The first intercept, a flight from Malaysia landing close to midnight on Saturday 26 April 2025, saw Customs officers quickly identify two Eagle Creek-branded bags with 50.2 kilograms of methamphetamine. The bags contained four smaller duffle bags, each with individually wrapped packages of methamphetamine. The second intercept arrived from Los Angeles early on the morning of Sunday 27 April 2025. Border agencies identified two backpacks and referred them to Customs. A search of these bags located 40.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. It is estimated that these two seizures of methamphetamine would have had a street value of up to NZ$34 million and caused up to NZ$95 million in potential harm and cost to New Zealand. Customs Manager Auckland Airport, Paul Williams, credited the sharp actions of Customs officers and border partners, reaffirming Customs' unrelenting focus on border security. 'This was rapid, skilled work by officers who know exactly what to look for. They acted immediately, intercepted the suspicious bags, and shut down what would have been a significant shipment of methamphetamine reaching into our communities. 'Preventing organised crime from profiting by harming New Zealanders is an absolute priority for Customs. Not only are our officers highly trained and always on the lookout for suspicious activity, but they do not work in isolation. 'Our job is clear: we stop illicit drugs before they reach our streets. While we work hard to assist legitimate travellers, we make no apology for our hardline approach to criminal activity at the border. We have the support of our border partners and stakeholders to stop them,' says Mr Williams. Since the beginning of 2025, Customs' team at Auckland International Airport has seized an estimated 405.69 kilograms of drugs across couriers and baggage. Anyone with information about suspicious activity can contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Scoop
Customs Seizes 90 Kilograms Of Methamphetamine Across Two Flights In 12 Hours
Customs officers have seized an estimated 90.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in four abandoned bags across two flights in under 12 hours at Auckland International Airport over the weekend. The first intercept, a flight from Malaysia landing close to midnight on Saturday 26 April 2025, saw Customs officers quickly identify two Eagle Creek-branded bags with 50.2 kilograms of methamphetamine. The bags contained four smaller duffle bags, each with individually wrapped packages of methamphetamine. The second intercept arrived from Los Angeles early on the morning of Sunday 27 April 2025. Border agencies identified two backpacks and referred them to Customs. A search of these bags located 40.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. It is estimated that these two seizures of methamphetamine would have had a street value of up to NZ$34 million and caused up to NZ$95 million in potential harm and cost to New Zealand. Customs Manager Auckland Airport, Paul Williams, credited the sharp actions of Customs officers and border partners, reaffirming Customs' unrelenting focus on border security. 'This was rapid, skilled work by officers who know exactly what to look for. They acted immediately, intercepted the suspicious bags, and shut down what would have been a significant shipment of methamphetamine reaching into our communities. 'Preventing organised crime from profiting by harming New Zealanders is an absolute priority for Customs. Not only are our officers highly trained and always on the lookout for suspicious activity, but they do not work in isolation. 'Our job is clear: we stop illicit drugs before they reach our streets. While we work hard to assist legitimate travellers, we make no apology for our hardline approach to criminal activity at the border. We have the support of our border partners and stakeholders to stop them,' says Mr Williams. Since the beginning of 2025, Customs' team at Auckland International Airport has seized an estimated 405.69 kilograms of drugs across couriers and baggage. Anyone with information about suspicious activity can contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
