At our seaports
Our sea border is made up of vast coastlines and busy seaports. Like airports, our seaports are a major gateway for international trade and travel. These maritime routes bring with them the threat of transnational serious and organised crime exploiting these for drug smuggling.
Different border agencies and businesses operate at and near seaports. New Zealand relies on us to maintain the integrity of the maritime border and supply chains to help protect our communities from harm.
What to look for at and around seaports
If your organisation operates at or near a seaport, you play an important role in protecting New Zealand from cross-border crime.
You know what normal looks like. Keep yourself safe and make a difference by reporting any suspicious behaviour.
Help keep seaports safe. Be alert to people who:
- bypass security processes
- access places within the port they shouldn’t
- come in out of hours or even on days off
- ask questions about law enforcement activities and/or shift patterns
- appear secretive
- ask others to overlook or ignore security breaches
- are dismissive or defensive if challenged
- allow access to places or goods by unknown people
- are possessive or pay undue attention to particular shipments
- approach you offering cash to subvert normal process
- suddenly display unexpected wealth.
Help keep seaports free from criminal activity. Look out for:
- Suspicious activity around perimeter fences. This could include:
- people and vehicles (loitering)
- unaccompanied bags or packages in or around fence lines
- damage to perimeter fences or gates
- port workers engaging with ship’s crew outside of the port.
- Suspicious activity at the port, such as:
- unauthorised people entering or driving on the port.
- Suspicious activity on and in the water, such as:
- small vessels around or under wharfs
- swimmers or divers around or under wharfs
- anybody entering the port from the seaward side.
- Suspicious filming, such as:
- people taking photos of port property, including fences, gates and CCTV systems.
- use of air or water drones near or above ports.
Call 111 and ask for Police when:
- someone is badly injured or in danger
- there's a serious risk to life or property
- a crime is being committed, and the offenders are still there or have just left
- it's happening now or has just happened.
Information on reporting an emergency is available at New Zealand Police
You know your environment. If it doesn’t seem right, report it.
Your tip could make a difference. If you identify suspicious activity or behaviour, you can report confidentially:
If you would like to contact Customs at a specific seaport, you can.