Border officials intercepted about 4900kg of illegal substances last year, according to the Customs Service.
Smugglers employed various concealment tactics throughout the year, authorities alleged, from hiding more than 500kg of methamphetamine in steel beams arriving by sea cargo to disguising 10kg as wrapped gifts in an air traveller’s carry-on duffle bag.
One seizure netted 4.4kg of the drug allegedly disguised as candles, including the weight of wax, while another found 1.4kg concealed in resin stones.
Key drug seizures at the border — which included meth, cocaine and MDMA — declined from a total of 6660kg in 2023 to 3201kg in 2024, with a large decrease in cocaine seizures.
Customs Service comptroller and chief executive Christine Stevenson said overall seizures would have prevented $4.8 billion in social and economic harm.
“Thanks to our hardworking officers working across airports, ports, and freight facilities, Customs has seized an estimated 2184kg methamphetamine, 468.2kg cocaine and 550.4kg MDMA sent here by transnational criminal groups,” she said.
International partnerships also led to additional seizures of more than 2951kg of illegal drugs overseas before they could reach New Zealand, Stevenson said.
