A couple have been jailed after smuggling around 2.5 million cigarettes into New Zealand in a metal fryer, attempting to evade $3.7 million in Customs fees.
A 33-year-old woman, a Chinese national, was sentenced to one year and 10 months at Manukau District Court for defrauding Customs revenue and importing prohibited goods.
Her 36-year-old Australian husband was sentenced to three years in prison on the same charges, as well as selling uncustomed goods.
The cigarettes were imported by the man – who created false declarations, names and delivery addresses to get them sent across Auckland. He sold the cigarettes through messaging apps and used associates to collect parcels.
The woman managed the accounts, received payments, identified delivery addresses and collected the packages once they had been delivered. She accounted for more than $1.28 million being evaded in excise duties.
Chief Customs Officer Nigel Barnes said the couple knew exactly what they were doing.
"The pair repeatedly adapted their methods, used false information and attempted to conceal their activity, all to protect their profits and evade more than NZ$3.7 million in duties," he said.
“Tobacco smugglers should be under no illusion that Customs continue to target criminal groups and individuals who seek to exploit international supply chains and undermine New Zealand's border and revenue systems."
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