Customs said the man was identified as a risk passenger through Customs’ standard pre-arrival screening.
“Frontline officers then questioned the man upon his arrival from Vancouver, Canada, and he was further referred for a baggage check.”
An examination then revealed his suitcase contained approximately 15 vacuum-sealed packages hidden amongst clothing, Customs said.
“The crystal-like substance inside tested positive for methamphetamine, with a potential retail value of approximately NZ$4.55 million,” Customs said.
Customs Auckland Airport acting manager Ben Wells credited the seizure to the layered defence approach and robust processes Customs has in place to catch drug couriers.
“Customs uses several tools including intelligence and passenger targeting through data and the use of sophisticated technology to identify high-risk passengers such as this individual.
“Further questioning and a search by frontline officers at the airport clearly indicated that something was not right.“
The news comes just days after police and Customs announced they had unravelled “a major transnational organised crime syndicate” smuggling drugs into New Zealand through Auckland International Airport with “corrupt” baggage handlers and local gangs.
“We’ll allege in court that this syndicate has operated with corrupt baggage handlers and local gangs to import massive amounts of drugs through the Auckland Airport,” Detective Inspector Tom Gollan said last week.
“We’ve seized approximately 630kg of methamphetamine valued at approximately $220 million in retail terms, and 112kg of cocaine.”
Gollan said that had the drugs been distributed around the country, they would have caused “significant misery” to vulnerable communities.
He thanked the agencies that had worked with police, such as Homeland Security in the United States and Customs in New Zealand.
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