WELLINGTON: Up to $246 million worth of methamphetamine has been stopped at New Zealand borders in the past six months.
Another $7.5m destined for New Zealand was seized in Hong Kong.
Customs made 1660 separate drug seizures to the end of June this year, with methamphetamine and its precursors making up the bulk.
Customs have stopped millions of dollars worth of concealed drugs from crossing New Zealand borders over the last six months.
Customs manger, border operations, Shane Panettiere said some seizures reached record levels last summer.
Customs made 63 methamphetamine seizures adding up to 141kg, and 189 seizures of precursors adding up to 369kg.
These were the largest volumes ever seized in a six-month period.
“The result has been really fantastic for us,” Panettiere said.
It was not uncommon for Customs to intercept several kilograms of methamphetamine or precursors in each seizure, sometimes on a daily basis.
Larger quantities of shipments were becoming more common, he said.
Methods of importation were many and varied, with 2kg of methamphetamine recently found in a pressure pump.
“Customs is actively working with local and international agencies to target and stop drugs, disrupt and dismantle the international supply chains as well as identify and pursue all involved – wherever they may be.”
