Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Customs seizes $176 million of meth from shipping containers

28 October 2016

Customs seizes $176 million of meth from shipping containers

A 20-year-old Hong Kong national appeared in the Auckland District Court this morning on a charge relating to his role in attempting to smuggle an estimated 176 kilograms of methamphetamine, with a potential street value of $176 million, into New Zealand.

This is Customs’ largest-ever meth seizure, and is the result of a 16-month investigation after Customs identified a company believed to have been set up in June 2015 to smuggle methamphetamine.

Investigations continued and in July 2016, Customs intercepted 10 shipping containers sent to this company from China, with multiple meth packages found concealed within the containers’ doors.

Further investigations linked the shipment to the 20-year-old man. He was arrested following two search warrants in Auckland in early October, where further evidence of his involvement was found.

Customs Group Manager Intelligence, Investigations & Enforcement, Jamie Bamford, says this significant seizure shows Customs can make a dent in the methamphetamine supply chain, and continues to use intelligence to target shipments before they arrive.


Meth from container doors

“Customs remains focussed on disrupting transnational smuggling through our role at the border and dismantling the criminal syndicates involved. This operation is ongoing, and we are not ruling out further arrests.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“This seizure will have prevented New Zealand’s criminal gangs from profiting from the misery caused by pushing meth through our cities and rural communities,” Mr Bamford says.

Based on the NZ Drug Harm Index, this seizure has prevented a potential social harm of up to $218 million.

“As with all our investigations, we will also liaise with our overseas customs counterparts for follow-up investigations in China and Hong Kong,” Mr Bamford says.

The man’s next appearance is scheduled for 17 November in the Auckland District Court.

-ends-

Video: View video footage https://vimeo.com/189229145


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.