New Zealand police and customs have joined forces with the FBI and the US homeland security to prevent close to 200kg of methamphetamine from landing in New Zealand.
A international task force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified a drug trafficking operation and intercepted the drugs headed towards New Zealand and Australia.
Five arrests were made in the US, with "New Zealand police and customs providing intelligence that further assisted US authorities in building their case against the alleged offenders", security and international police liaison Inspector Paul Newman said in a statement.
Customs investigations manager Dominic Adams said New Zealand’s key strategy to intercept drug smuggling networks was targeting "both ends of the international supply chain – upon import once the drugs reach New Zealand, as well as before export to stop the drugs from being sent here in the first place".
“We work closely with our international and domestic law enforcement partners to identify, target and tackle transnational crime cells operating in both countries," Adams said.
Police say seizures at the US border destined for New Zealand have been increasing every year.
Reports provided to customs says US authorities have seized approximately 1102kg of border-controlled drugs – including 1087kg methamphetamine – heading to New Zealand in 2023.
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