ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Customs stops $1b of drugs at the border

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Thu, 8 Mar 2018, 3:34PM
The seized goods were made up of 240,000 items. (Photo / NZ Herald)
The seized goods were made up of 240,000 items. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Customs stops $1b of drugs at the border

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Thu, 8 Mar 2018, 3:34PM

Customs seized $1 billion worth of drugs at the border last year, more than a tonne in total.

Nearly 240,000 "items" such as tabs and pills were seized, and nearly 900kg of methamphetamine and its precursor ephedrine were stopped at the border.

Other interceptions included cocaine, MDMA, cannabis, LSD, Class C analogues, psychoactive substances.

Minister of Customs Meka Whaitiri congratulated Customs on stopping "$1b of potential harm to New Zealand communities" from entering the country.

"This is fantastic work," she said.

"When I started in my role as minister, I was clear to my officials that keeping methamphetamine off our streets - it's pleasing to know these seizures would have stopped many criminals in their tracks.

"More importantly, these seizures have protected our families, whanau and the wider community from a considerable amount of potential harm."

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you