An estimated 28.5kg of methamphetamine has been seized by Customs after it was found in two abandoned duffel bags near the baggage claim at Auckland International Airport at the weekend.
Customs officers conducting routine checks in the arrivals area noticed two bags that appeared to have been abandoned.
X-rays of the bags revealed inconsistencies and a positive indication by a drug detector drug led to the discovery.
A total of 14 packages of methamphetamine was found in both bags — wrapped in four layers of black film, clear plastic, tea bag branded packaging and clear plastic wrapping.
Customs Auckland Airport manager Paul Williams credited the seizure to the vigilance of frontline officers.
“This seizure has stopped a significant quantity of harmful drugs from getting into our communities, and will no doubt leave the criminals involved out of pocket for the Christmas season.”
This amount of methamphetamine would have had a street value of $10.7m and caused up to $29.9m in social harm and cost to Kiwis.
Williams said the investigation was ongoing and that Customs was not ruling out arrests.
“Customs is accustomed to the tactics organised crime syndicates used during the busy travel season.
“Whether it’s exploiting people to act as drug couriers or sending drugs within unaccompanied luggage to be picked up later by criminal accomplices, our officers are always on high alert.
“In addition to doing our best to facilitate law-abiding holidaymakers this busy travel season, Customs officers are also deployed specifically to look out for suspicious behaviour or baggage that led to the seizure over the weekend.”
