WELLINGTON, Feb 18 (Bernama-dpa) — New Zealand Customs has seized an estimated 101 kilogrammes of cocaine, the department’s largest seizure at an airport to date, it said on Tuesday, reported German news agency (dpa).
Officers identified a number of bags arriving on a Hawaiian Airlines flight at Auckland International Airport on Saturday, Customs said in a statement.
“On examination, customs officers located 85 bricks of a substance that had been wrapped in black film and clear plastic wrapping. Initial testing indicated positive for cocaine.”
The drugs’ estimated street value was about NZ$35.4 million (US$20.2 million) and could have caused up to NZ$37.8 million of social harm and cost to the country, the department added.
Border operations manager Dana McDonald credited the bust to the “vigilance and agility” of customs officers.
“We work hard to stop the supply of illegal drugs, with an aim to hit criminal profits, reduce the ability to cultivate user demand, and disrupt their goal to exploit New Zealand communities.”
McDonald said Customs was concerned that drug seizures at Auckland Airport have increased steadily in recent years.
“In the first two months of this year, Customs officers at Auckland Airport have already seized over 183 kilogrammes of drugs, which highlights the important role we play in protecting New Zealand as well as the environment we operate in,” he said.
— BERNAMA-dpa