On 22 March 2017, Dean Rickerby arrived at Wellington Airport from Sydney after spending the last 10 years living in Australia. Customs officers referred him to the search area following questioning, and a search of his cellphone showed photos of him using illicit drugs.
During a personal search the man took out a small packet from his pocket and, after failing to hide it, tried to swallow it. He was made to spit it out and arrested. The packet contained a total of 1.45 grams of meth.
Customs Manager Central & Southern Ports Joe Cannon says this is a somewhat unusual case of a drug user carrying a small amount of drugs for their own personal use.
“Even a small amount of drugs, in this case meth, carried for personal use is an importation of a Class A controlled drug that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment – and is a conviction that is carried for life.
“Customs officers are well trained and have great gut instinct. It is their job to be satisfied a traveller is not carrying anything they shouldn’t. This case is the result of good perseverance by our team at Wellington Airport,” he says.