A United States national has been jailed for nearly five years after she was caught trying to smuggle 18kg of methamphetamine into New Zealand.
The 32-year-old woman had her bags searched after coming off a flight from San Francisco at Auckland Airport on November 10 last year.
She told Customs officers she knew the contents of her bag and was not carrying any illegal or controlled substances.
But a search of her bags uncovered 36 vacuum-sealed packages of methamphetamine. The haul, hidden in two suitcases, weighed a total of 18.28kg.
A "small quantity" of cocaine was also found in her handbag.
At the Manukau District Court on Friday, July 31, the woman was imprisoned for four years and 10 months.
Chief Customs office for compliance and enforcement Ben Wells said the sentence showed people would be held accountable for attempting to smuggle drugs into New Zealand.
“Methamphetamine causes significant harm to individuals, families and communities across New Zealand, and Customs remains committed to stopping those who seek to bring illicit drugs into our country.
“Whether it’s a traveller's first visit to New Zealand or they have been here multiple times, Customs will take action whenever criminal activity is detected."
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