Police And Customs Bag Smuggling Ring Operating Airside
Police and Customs terminated nearly two dozen search warrants on Wednesday across the Auckland region as part of Operation Matata.
Eighteen arrests have been made, including nine baggage handlers and another staff member working at the country's busiest airport.
Those arrested are 17 men, aged between 20 and 42, and a 19-year-old woman. Those arrested were appearing in the Manukau District Court yesterday afternoon and today.
It all began on 20 March 2025, when a man was arrested outside an East Tamaki address after 25 kilograms of methamphetamine was discovered in his vehicle.
Now, detectives from the National Organised Crime Group and counterparts at Customs have uncovered a wider group organising and facilitating controlled drugs being smuggled through Auckland Airport.
'Police will allege in court that this group imported controlled drugs through the airport on six occasions,' Detective Inspector Tom Gollan says.
'As a result, approximately 64 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3.4 kilograms of cocaine has been seized by Customs and Police.'
This would have gone on to cause significant harm and cost to New Zealand communities.
'Insider threats pose a threat to this country, and we are pleased to continue to work with Auckland Airport authorities, Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to stamp this out,' Detective Inspector Gollan says.
Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams adds: 'These individuals are alleged to have abused their trusted positions as airport workers to smuggle significant amounts of harmful drugs into New Zealand.
'There is zero tolerance for this type of behaviour and this operation signals the action that law enforcement, with the support of industry partners, has taken against those who thought they could operate outside of the law and profit from their criminal activities.'
During the 23 search warrants carried out, Police located a significant amount of cash along with quantities of cocaine and a sawn-off shotgun.
Those arrested will face serious drugs charges, including importation, supply and possession for supply of the class A controlled drugs methamphetamine and cocaine.
Operation Matata – by the numbers:
Around 64.5kg of methamphetamine equates to:
- 3,225,000 doses
- $22.5m – the approximate retail value of this methamphetamine
- $71.5m – an approximate amount of social harm prevented
Around 3.4kg of cocaine equates to:
- 34,000 doses
- $1.5m – the approximate retail value of this cocaine
- $1m – the approximate amount of social harm prevented
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
a day ago
- 1News
Pair charged after allegedly importing drugs online to sell in Waikato
A Waikato pair have been charged after allegedly importing drugs online to sell in the local market. An investigation was launched after staff at Police and Customs identified a spike in the importation of GBL and 1,4-B, a drug similar to GBL, earlier this year. The joint operation between Waikato police and New Zealand Customs uncovered "litres of Fantasy or GBL, pills and other illegal substances ordered through international online sources and imported into New Zealand to be sold in the local Waikato market", Detective Inspector Daryl Smith said. On Tuesday, the Waikato organised crime squad – with assistance from Customs, the armed offenders squad, and other Waikato Police staff – carried out searches at two properties and two storage facilities. "A total of 4L of 1,4-B, 129 cannabis plants, 1kg of dried cannabis, 100 BZP pills, and ammunition were located across the properties," Smith said. ADVERTISEMENT "This follows a previous seizure of 30L of GBL at the border." A 40-year-old man and 42-year-old woman were arrested and charged with a variety of offences including importing a Fantasy-type substance, supplying a Fantasy-type substance, supplying methamphetamine, cultivating cannabis, and supplying cannabis. 'This investigation sends a message to drug dealers shopping online – you can't hide behind the internet.' New Zealand Customs investigations manager Dominic Adams called the investigation and subsequent arrests "another great example of the collaborative work between Customs and Police". "These arrests have prevented the distribution of harmful drugs into the Waikato, leaving our communities safer as a result.'
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Waikato drug bust: Police, Customs seize illegal imports, arrest two
Fantasy, cannabis, pills and ammunition have been seized in Waikato raids after police and Customs busted an online drug importing ring. A joint operation between the two agencies was launched after a spike in the importing of GBL (Fantasy) and 1,4-B, which is a drug similar to
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Online Drug Shopping Lands Waikato Pair In Court
Litres of Fantasy or GBL, pills and other illegal substances ordered through international online sources and imported into New Zealand to be sold in the local Waikato market have been uncovered in a joint operation by Waikato Organised Crime and New Zealand Customs. Earlier this year, staff at Police and Customs identified a spike in the importation of GBL and 1,4-B (a drug similar to GBL), and an investigation was launched. On Tuesday, the Waikato Organised Crime Squad, with assistance from Customs, the Armed Offenders Squad, and other Waikato Police staff executed warrants at two residential addresses and two storage facilities. A total of 4L of 1,4-B, 129 cannabis plants, 1kg of dried cannabis, 100 BZP pills, and ammunition were located across the properties. This follows a previous seizure of 30L of GBL at the border. A 40-year-old man and 42-year-old woman were arrested and charged with a variety of offences including importing a Fantasy type substance, supplying a Fantasy type substance, supplying methamphetamine, cultivating cannabis and supplying cannabis. Detective Inspector Daryl Smith of the Waikato Organised Crime Squad warned those who attempted to buy drugs online that Police and Customs are on to them. 'This investigation sends a message to drug dealers shopping online – you can't hide behind the internet.' This week's warrants also showed the value of the partnership between Customs and NZ Police to tackle international crime syndicates and the importation of illegal drugs into New Zealand, he said. Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams said Customs is committed to identifying and disrupting the smuggling of illicit substances into our country. 'This is another great example of the collaborative work between Customs and Police. These arrests have prevented the distribution of harmful drugs into the Waikato, leaving our communities safer as a result.'
