AUCKLAND: About $30 million worth of methamphetamine, or “P”, has been seized at Auckland Airport after it was found hidden inside small silica gel sachets.
The sachets were stuffed inside 4000 handbags which were air freighted from China.
Customs officials said the handbags looked ordinary inside and out, but on closer inspection about 3.5 grams of P was found inside most of the sachets.
In total, 30kg of the drug was seized.
Customs investigations manager Maurice O’Brien said a large team spent a day and a half opening and testing thousands of the sachets.
They were proud to have kept the P off New Zealand streets, he said.
“This creative concealment shows that criminals will go to great lengths to try and smuggle drugs, but Customs is also constantly building its intelligence picture and updating its risk assessment and examination techniques to keep ahead of emerging trends.
“This is another big win for Customs and an even bigger win for our communities.”
