Two women have been charged after Customs officers allegedly seized 39kg of methamphetamine disguised as tea.
The pair, aged 21 and 22, were flagged at Wellington Airport on Saturday after they arrived on a flight from Malaysia via Sydney.
A search of their luggage uncovered 18 foil packets of branded tea, individually vacuum sealed and wrapped in towels.
Tests returned a positive result for methamphetamine.
Customs said the seizure had an estimated street value of $13 million.
Central and Southern Airports manager Brittany Small said the case highlighted how young New Zealanders were being “lured and exploited into dangerous criminal activity”.
Two women were charged with the importation of a Class A controlled drug after 39kg of methamphetamine was seized by Customs at Wellington Airport. Photo / Customs
“This is not a shortcut to riches. This is a surefire way to change the trajectory of your life – risking your freedom, your future, and to end up spending your best years in jail,” she said.
The women appeared in Wellington District Court yesterday, charged with the importation of a Class A controlled drug.
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