Latest news with #Customs'
1News
10-05-2025
- 1News
Government puts $35m towards keeping drugs out of the country
The government is putting an extra $35 million over four years into keeping drugs and organised crime 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."
The Star
05-05-2025
- The Star
Suspected meth found in deserted car
KOTA BARU: More than 18kg of crystal powder suspected to be drugs has been seized by the authorities from an abandoned car in Pasir Mas. The Customs Department suspected the substance to be methamphetamine, worth RM585,664. Its Kelantan director, Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long, said that acting on a tip-off, an operation team from the Kota Baru enforcement branch conducted a raid at Kampung Resak, Pasir Mas, on April 10. During the search, the team found a Proton Iswara abandoned in the area. He said an inspection of the car found a sack containing 17 compressed pieces of clear white powder resembling crystals, Bernama reported. 'Initial investigations found that the syndicate involved is believed to be using the vehicle as a temporary storage place before the drugs were distributed to customers,' he said in a statement yesterday. The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act. If convicted under the provision, offenders could face the death penalty or life imprisonment with not less than 15 strokes of the cane. Wan Jamal urged the public with information related to smuggling activities, including cigarettes, liquor, firecrackers, drugs and vehicles to call the Customs' toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855 or contact any nearby Customs office. 'The identity of the informant will be kept confidential,' he added.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Scoop
Customs Seizes 90 Kilograms Of Methamphetamine Across Two Flights In 12 Hours
Press Release – New Zealand Customs Service 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.
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.
