A 69-year-old Dutch national has been jailed for six-and-a-half years after he attempted to smuggle $1.6 million worth of methamphetamine through Auckland Airport last year.
He was sentenced at the Manukau District Court yesterday after being convicted of the importation of the Class A controlled drug.
The 4.4kg of methamphetamine was seized by Customs in September last year after it was found in the lining of the man’s hand luggage.
The estimated street value of the seized drugs was up to $1.6 million, and $4.9 million worth of social harm.
“Anyone committing such a serious crime will have to face the consequences,” Customs Auckland Airport manager Paul Williams said, in a statement.
“Drug couriers may be willing to take the risk of trying to smuggle illegal drugs, but they should understand that Customs’ training and access to intelligence means there is a good chance we will catch and arrest them.”
