Three employees at Auckland International Airport were arrested after smuggling 58kg of methamphetamine worth NZ21.7 million from Malaysia.
Customs, working closely with industry partners, identified suspicious activity within airport precincts. Investigations established that the three workers had moved a container off a flight from Malaysia at Auckland International Airport on 12 March 2025.
The men were arrested and appeared in the Manukau District Court on the same day.
The seized methamphetamine equates to close to 2.9 million individual doses, with a potential street value of up to NZ$21.7 million. This seizure is estimated to have prevented up to NZ$61 million in social harm and cost to New Zealand.
Customs Investigations Manager, Dominic Adams, says:
“We’re sending a clear message to transnational and serious organised crime groups that we are always on the lookout for signs of suspicious behaviour across the supply chain and have eyes on everyone trusted to work in secure areas.
“These arrests highlight the ongoing great work of our frontline Customs officers at the border in addition to Customs efforts in building trusted networks with border and industry partners to protect the integrity of our supply chain.”
