Two men face life in prison after allegedly attempting to smuggle 36kg of methamphetamine concealed in green tea packets through Auckland international Airport this week.
A 25-year-old Australian national and 23-year-old New Zealander were arrested yesterday and were due to appear in Manukau District Court today charged with importing a class A controlled drug.
Customs said the pair travelled together on a flight from Singapore and were referred to a baggage search on arrival.
Officers found identical contents inside each — vacuum-sealed bags wrapped in towels.
Each bag held 18 vacuum-sealed packets of methamphetamine, concealed within green tea packaging branded with the Playboy bunny logo.
The approximate total weight of methamphetamine per suitcase was 18kg, with a combined total of approximately 36kg between both.
The National Drug Intelligence Bureau estimated that 36kg of methamphetamine was equivalent to an estimated 1.8 million doses.
If sold in retail amounts, this amount of crystal methamphetamine would be worth approximately NZ$10.8 million.
Customs chief compliance and enforcement officer Ben Wells said it was another case of young people being lured into a "very dangerous criminal world with the promise of fast money".
"Make no mistake – it is not worth the risk," he said.
"Bringing illegal drugs into the country only lines the pockets of transnational, serious organised crime syndicates, while those doing the footwork carry the very heavy weight of the crime.
"This intercept is another example of the careful attention our targeters and officers at the airport pay to travellers, which has now prevented over NZ$37 million of social harm reaching our communities."
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