Traveller’s drug smuggling attempt comes undone

The concealment was unravelled after the first-time traveller to New Zealand arrived on board a flight from Vancouver, Canada, and was referred for a baggage search. Testing indicated the presence of methamphetamine on 26 items of clothing.

Customs Manager for Auckland Airport, Paul Williams, says the man was charged with the importation of a Class A controlled drug and was scheduled to appear in the Manukau District Court today (Monday 20 April).

“This was a complex concealment and shows the lengths criminals will go to in the hope of evading detection. But thanks to our officers’ excellent attention to detail and increasingly sophisticated passenger targeting, we have ways to identify high-risk passengers such as this individual,” says Mr Williams. 

Everyone has a role to play in protecting New Zealand’s border and communities from illicit drugs. Suspicions about drug smuggling can be reported by calling 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) in confidence, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.