Tourists arrested in $6m P bust

Photo / Brett Phibbs

More than 8kg of pure methamphetamine (P), with a street value of around $6 million, was found last week in the luggage of a Taiwanese tour group at Auckland Airport, the Customs Department says.

The drug was discovered during a search of sealed food and beverage containers in one of the group's luggage last Sunday.

The other members of the group were also searched and more methamphetamine was found concealed in their luggage.

A total of 8.175kg of pure methamphetamine was found.

The seven, all Taiwanese nationals aged in their mid-20s, were arrested and charged with importing a Class A controlled drug.

They appeared in court on Monday and were remanded in custody.

Two of the accused were also charged with drug importation relating to a previous trip to New Zealand in March.

The group were in the country on a private tour and had organised their own guide, a Customs spokeswoman said.

- NZPA