Police with the assistance of Customs have arrested and charged two people following the seizure of 13.5 kilograms of methamphetamine at Auckland International Airport.
The drugs, which have a street value of approximately $2.4 million, were brought into New Zealand concealed within heavy steel machinery.
Over the weekend the National Organised Crime Group executed two search warrants at Waikato addresses and a 22-year-old Waikato man was arrested and charged with importation of the Class A controlled drug Methamphetamine.
We have also charged a 48-year-old Auckland woman. She faces the same charge and they have both since appeared in court.
We are also looking for three others in relation to this seizure and are making a number of enquiries to locate them.
Detective Inspector Paul Newman says Police are relieved to have stopped these drugs which were clearly destined for the New Zealand market.
“It is clear that those involved were attempting to test the system to see if this method would get past authorities. It didn’t work.
“We believe if this concealment method had been successful, they would have attempted to use the same method to try and bring further significant amounts of this drug into New Zealand", says Detective Inspector Newman.
“This seizure sends a clear message that Police, along with our partner agencies will continue to find those responsible for spreading this harm and hold them to account. We say this time and time again, but meth is causing significant harm across our communities and we continue to encourage anyone who has information that will assist us in catching those responsible to contact us.”
ENDS
Shelley Nahr/NZ Police