Customs’ meth seizures rise as organised crime expands reach

Tuesday, 11 November 2025

A Customs detector dog and handler at work.

Drug couriers, unaccompanied baggage and items stashed in shipping containers are being increasingly used by organised criminal groups to attempt to smuggle more and more drugs into New Zealand.

But Customs - whose work will be bolstered by Sunday’s announcement on a new plan to fight illegal drugs importation and use - says it is making a dent.

“Countries around the world are facing similar challenges as [organised crime] groups expand their reach in pursuit of profit,” Customs chief executive and comptroller Christine Stevenson said in the agency’s annual report to parliament.

“But we are making a difference.”

In its recent annual report, the border agency said that its seizures of methamphetamine, the drug the Government’s labelled “a scourge on our society”, rose more than 20% in just the last year.

The seizures of meth have more than quadrupled since 2020/21, with double digit increases every year in the past five years, the report says.

Provisional figures showed seizures have risen from 1450kg in 2020/21 to 6021kg in 2024/25. A total of 2845kg was seized in 2021/22, 3793kg in 2022/23 and 4997kg in 2023/24.

With more than six tonnes of meth - which made up two-thirds of the illicit drugs seized - caught at the border, or on its way to New Zealand in 2024/25, Stevenson said this prevented $6.3 billion in potential social harm.

A parcel declared as macadamia nut samples that actually contained 2.2kg of methamphetamine was seized by Customs this year.

Transnational organised crime groups (TSOC) groups were targeting New Zealand’s supply chains to transport their products, Stevenson said.

“They insert people in key roles at ports and airports, or compromise people already in those roles, who can bypass security measures and divert goods before they reach Customs screening areas.

“These groups are using highly sophisticated smuggling methods and communications technology, as well as smuggling attempts with limited or no effort to conceal the goods.”

The Government on Sunday revealed its plan to fight back against meth addiction and the offshore criminal groups sending the drug to New Zealand.

To stem the supply, the Government will get spy agencies working with Customs and the Defence Force to target ships carrying illegal drugs in the Pacific. It will also work with ports and the shipping industry.

The Search and Surveillance Act will be changed, to make it easier for law enforcement agencies to intercept communications and search evidence on computers and phones.

It will increase funding by $30 million for addiction services and launch a four-year advertising campaign led by Health New Zealand to educate the public about methamphetamine harm.

Customs has found suitcases or duffle bags packed with illicit drugs in shipping containers have been removed on arrival in New Zealand before they can be inspected.

That campaign will receive $5.9m from the Proceeds of Crime Fund - money taken from criminals - and the Government wants to make it faster for police use the proceeds of crime laws to seize assets from drug dealers.

There will also be $11m put into a programme that helps communities hit by meth addiction.

The past year had seen a sharp increase in organised crime groups attempting to smuggle illicit drugs by using passengers as drug couriers, through unaccompanied baggage.

There had also been a rise in smuggling via sea cargo containers or through concealment in or on shipping vessels.

“Most of these smuggling attempts use the ‘rip-on/rip-off’ method where suitcases or duffle bags packed with drugs are added to legitimate shipping containers and removed on arrival at the port before the containers reach Customs screening area.

The largest seizure of the financial year was 450kg of methamphetamine hidden inside steel beams imported from the United States in September 2024.

Other notable seizures included 150kg of cocaine in duffel bags in a container on a ship arriving from Jamaica in June 2025; 130kg of cocaine found packed in duffel bags in a shipping container, from Italy via Panama, loaded with machinery in May 2025 and 100kg of methamphetamine found in suitcases inside a container of fertiliser from Peru in July 2024 .

Customs staff were also encountering greater personal risk, Stevenson said.

Customs says TSOC groups are increasingly willing to use intimidation, violence, or coercion. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

“TSOC groups are increasingly willing to use intimidation, violence, or coercion to achieve their outcomes.

“The increased use of people involved in the shipment or movement of goods to facilitate illicit drug smuggling has added another layer of complexity to border management.”

A joint investigation with the police beginning in March this year, identified a criminal syndicate allegedly working to smuggle illicit drugs through Auckland International Airport.

“In the first phase of the investigation 18 people believed to be part of the syndicate were arrested in June 2025.

“This included nine people employed by airline baggage handling companies and another person working at the airport. They were able to access restricted areas to retrieve the bags containing the drugs before the bags reached Customs screening areas.”

In July, another nine people were arrested after Customs and the police executed 19 search warrants across Auckland.

“So far in this investigation, we have seized 631kg of methamphetamine and 112kg of cocaine at our border or through our partnership with customs and law enforcement agencies in the United States,” Stevenson said.

TSOC groups were also involved in money laundering. A long-running investigation into a trade-based money laundering case using profits from importing and distributing drugs ended this year.

“The primary suspect allegedly exported vehicles and vehicle parts through their New Zealand company to an overseas company, undervaluing the goods in export documentation to increase the profits at the other end.

“These profits were then passed on to the syndicate behind the drug smuggling. The suspects have been charged with money laundering and other offences.”

Stevenson said countries around the world were facing similar challenges as TSOC groups expanded their reach investing in new technology to monitor their shipments and avoid detection.

“We are also investing in new technology to counter this threat.

“This year Customs partnered with the New Zealand Defence Force to acquire two new un-crewed surface vessels to stay at sea for long periods providing intelligence and monitoring vessels on the open ocean.

“We are also looking at how we can use other new technology to help protect New Zealand’s border.”