'P shoes' bust beats record

Some of the record $10 million worth of methamphetamine Customs officers found in the shoes of 10 Malaysians entering the country through Auckland Airport. Photo / Greg Bowker

The alleged drug mules caught in a record-breaking $8 million seizure of P face the possibility of life sentences in prison - for as little as $6200 and a free trip to New Zealand.

Ten Malaysian drug couriers were found with at least 8kg of methamphetamine hidden in their shoes as they entered the country through Auckland Airport.

Each was carrying between 800g and 1kg of the drug.

The bust was the biggest at New Zealand's border.

The 10 drug courier arrests were also the most made at one time.

The eight men and two women were in a tour group of 14.

Customs officers searching the bags of two of the group then referred them for a personal search. In both cases, P was found in their shoes.

Some of the eight others had left the Customs area, but they were found by Customs officers and airport police.

P was also found in the shoes of all eight.

Police say the four other members of the tour group are innocent.

"By embedding themselves in what appear to be legitimate tour groups, these criminals are trying to assume normal travel patterns so they will not be targeted as high risk," said Customs investigations manager Mark Day.

"We had a similar attempt by a Taiwanese tour group last year, but they, too, were caught out by vigilant officers. It's work our officers can be very proud of."

Auckland drug squad detectives arrested the 10, who appeared in Manukau District Court yesterday each charged with importing methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine for supply.

If convicted, they could be sentenced to life imprisonment.

Yuen Fatt Wong, 61, Teng-Kim Ooi, 52, Eng Hin Ong, 39, Ewe Hoe Ong, 40, Tan Ah Nya. 51, Waihong Leong, 23, Sit Mooi En, 29, Lian Fong Wong, 53, Eng Wan Teoh, 22, and Ah Kooi Teoh, 21, were remanded in custody to reappear next month.

Judge Charles Blackie refused to grant them interim name suppression, citing open justice and public interest.

The head of the Auckland drug squad, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Bruce Howard, said it was unusual to make 10 arrests which were not part of a planned operation.

While a number of recent methamphetamine smugglers had come from Malaysia, Mr Howard said police had yet to establish which particular organised-crime group the latest arrests were linked to.

He expressed some sympathy for the 10 people arrested and charged, as he said drug couriers were given as little as US$5000 ($6200) and a free trip to New Zealand as payment.

"Drug mules are nowhere near the top of the food chain."

Yesterday's seizure exceeds the 8kg of methamphetamine found in the luggage of a Taiwanese tour group in May last year.

Five men and two women, all in their 20s, were charged with importing a class-A controlled drug.

Previously, the largest border haul had been 4kg of P.

In November 2009, four Japanese tourists were arrested with drugs found in the lining of their suitcases.

Each has been sentenced to at least seven years in jail.

Two weeks ago, Malaysian police dealt a blow to a syndicate supplying drugs to New Zealand, arresting nine Iranians and seizing more than 70kg of methamphetamine.

Anti-narcotics chief Noor Rashid Ibrahim said he believed the Iranians were supplying Indonesia, Australia and Japan as well as New Zealand, using Malaysia as a base.

"Initial investigations show that these Iranians are part of a major syndicate and they smuggled in the drugs, have been selling them in Malaysia and shipping them overseas as well," Mr Noor Rashid said.

BIGGEST P SEIZURES

APRIL 2011: 10 Malaysians caught with at least 8kg of methamphetamine.

MAY 2010: 7 Taiwanese caught with 8kg.

NOVEMBER 2009: 4 Japanese caught with 4kg.

LARGEST FIND

MAY 2006: 7 Chinese arrested with 96kg in shipping container.

- Additional reporting: NZPA