The New Zealand Customs Service has made a record methamphetamine bust at Auckland Airport, seizing what is believed to be the largest quantity of drugs the organisation has ever found in an air passenger's luggage.
On the weekend, a man travelling from Canada was questioned and searched by Customs officers, which led to them finding nearly 26kg of meth in the lining of both his suitcases.
Customs manager at Auckland Airport Paul Williams said he believes this sets a new record, previously held by 19kg of meth seized in May, 2020.
"This is a brazen smuggling attempt by a drug courier who appears to be working for an organised crime group. Customs is pleased this seizure has stopped these drugs and cut off the profits criminal groups had aim to make by exploiting our communities," he said in a statement on Monday.
"Our message to drug couriers and others who work for these gangs is simple - don't do it, it's not worth the risk. The criminals you work for don't care what happens to you or the consequences for your families when you are caught."
Williams said this amount of meth or 'P' could have produced almost 1.3 million individual doses and would have been worth up to $9 million on New Zealand streets.
The man arrested faces two charges of importing methamphetamine and one charge of possession methamphetamine for supply.
He has been remanded in custody to reappear in court in February next year.
