International cooperation disrupts global drug trafficking syndicate arrests

The success of the operation was made possible through close cooperation and timely exchange of intelligence between the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore (CNB), Narcotics Control Bureau of Brunei Darussalam (NCB), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) and New Zealand authorities. 

In April 2025, CNB received information about freight parcels of electronic devices suspected to be carrying controlled drugs transiting through Singapore, believed to have originated from the United States and bound for New Zealand. The parcels were intercepted and seized by CNB, and found to contain more than 10 kilograms of methamphetamine. CNB conducted follow-up investigations and monitoring, which led to the identification of other similar parcels bound for New Zealand and Australia. 

Using the intelligence provided by the CNB, New Zealand Customs was able to intercept two drug-laden parcels in April 2025 and June 2025, seizing a total of 10 kilograms of methamphetamine. This is an estimated 500,000 doses and would have had a street value in New Zealand of approximately NZ$3 million.

Prior to this, NCB had made multiple seizures, amounting to 49 kilograms, between November 2024 and April 2025. The methamphetamine was destined for several countries in the Middle East, Europe, East Asia and Australasia. It was suspected that these seizures belonged to the same syndicate as CNB and New Zealand Customs’ seizures.  The syndicate used the same approach involving the concealment of narcotics within electronic devices and routing them through courier and virtual office services to obscure the origin of the shipments.

Additional intelligence sharing with the AFP and ABF about the syndicate led to the Australian authorities intercepting and seizing multiple consignments in May 2025 containing a total of about 40 kilograms of methamphetamine. If the methamphetamine had reached the Australian community, it would have had an estimated street value of AUD$37 million, equating to approximated 400,000 individual street deals. The drugs were concealed inside furniture, coffee and mustard shipments. 

The international drug syndicate is being investigated in the United States, and the DEA is pursuing all leads to identify the subjects involved, including the sources of their supply. DEA investigators believe the methamphetamine originated from Mexico and was imported into the United States for further delivery into more lucrative markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

New Zealand Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams praised the collaboration with close international partners. 

He said “As this international operation shows, combining intelligence and timely action between partners internationally delivers results. The United States, Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand and Australia targeted an international syndicate preventing methamphetamine from getting into our communities and doing damage. 

“New Zealand pays one of the highest prices in the world for illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, which makes us a lucrative destination that organised crime is constantly trying to exploit. A transnational criminal network requires a transnational law enforcement approach to tackle it, and we value the support we have received through this operation. New Zealand will continue to build on our collaboration with Singapore, the United States, Brunei, and Australia to identify drugs destined for our shores.”

Detective Inspector Darrin Thomson of the New Zealand National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) at New Zealand Police stated:

“Operation Amalgam is a joint NZ Police and Customs investigation that ran for a 12-month period identifying more than 90 importations of the Class A controlled drug methamphetamine intended for Aotearoa New Zealand. Approximately 50 percent of these attempted importations were seized by Law Enforcement Agencies overseas and in New Zealand. NZ Police have made 16 arrests holding those to account who would prey on our communities with little or no regard to the impact that drug addiction and related crime causes. The strength of Operation Amalgam was in the tremendous partnerships we grew domestically and internationally. Our partnerships strongly supported the disruption of this supply chain and has prevented significant future harm and crime across Aotearoa. 

“The collaboration with our international law enforcement partners the CNB and DEA is a success story that demonstrates what can be achieved when a collective effort is taken focusing on intelligence and investigation across law enforcement. The collaboration between Singapore, the United States, Brunei, New Zealand and Australia has embedded a partnership that is both valued and effective in keeping communities safe.” 
   
The positive outcome underscores the strength of strong collaboration among the DEA, CNB, NCB, New Zealand Customs, New Zealand Police, AFP and the ABF and their shared commitment to tackling the growing threat of organised crime and global drug trafficking. The agencies will continue to build on this partnership, deepening operational cooperation and intelligence exchange to stay ahead of evolving transnational drug networks and operations.