An Australian customs patrol boat will arrive in New Zealand today for a month-long joint exercise.
The Storm Bay will work with the New Zealand border control vessel Hawk in an attempt to share techniques and strengthen co-operation between the two services.
New Zealand customs officers aboard Storm Bay plan to take advantage of the opportunity to intercept deepsea fishing vessels in areas normally beyond the reach of New Zealand patrol craft.
In addition to patrolling New Zealand's economic exclusion zone and 11,000 km coastline, customs officers are responsible for policing drug smugglers and stopping illegal immigrants.
They work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest to preventing the importation of exotic pests and the illegal export of protected species.
The Australians aboard Storm Bay will also be showing New Zealand police how to find and detain illegal immigrants at sea. Last year, Australian maritime authorities intercepted more than 2,500 assylum seekers.
Customs services in joint exercise
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