NZ Customs Release Issue 724

Menzies Aviation recently identified a suspicious shipment that was found to contain methamphetamine with a street value of over $4 million, preventing over $22 million in social harm.

Menzies became concerned about a shipment that had arrived from Asia, when they weren't able to properly identify the consignee. They quickly contacted Customs, who examined and seized the shipment.  

This was the second suspicious shipment that Menzies have identified after previously referring a suspect shipment to Customs that was found to contain methamphetamine with a street value of over $8 million.

Thank you Menzies for your help in protecting New Zealand from the harm that drugs cause.

You can also help by reporting suspicious shipments.

Customs officers have made a record seizure of nearly 26 kilograms of methamphetamine found in the luggage of a Canadian national in the weekend (28 October 2023).

He was scheduled to appear in the Manukau District Court Monday afternoon (30 October 2023).

The accused faces two charges of importing methamphetamine and one charge of possession of methamphetamine for supply.

Police and Customs have disrupted a $63 million drug importation bound for Aotearoa New Zealand shores and arrested four men, following a joint operation.

The operation, named Blanco, resulted in the seizure of 140 kgs of cocaine at the Ports of Auckland yesterday.

The investigation identified the concerning trend of organised crime groups to aggressively target and attempt to "rip" or take possession of the imported drugs while they are transiting through port or other associated facilities.

Split shipment is a provision that may allow multiple shipments to be entered under the tariff classification that would apply if the goods had been imported as a single shipment.

From 11 December 2023 changes to the steel research levy, which applies to all items listed in Schedule 2 of the Heavy Engineering Research Levy Act, 1978, will increase levy rates from $10/tonne to $20/tonne.

Customs would like to remind importers and their agents that the cancellation of Import Entries for the purpose of changing the payment method is not permitted.

From 1 January 2024 changes to the Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Goods) Levy will increase levy rates across all items.

The Climate Change (Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Levies) Amendment Regulations 2023 (Schedule 1 and 2) set out the levy rate changes. Minor updates to item descriptions and tariff codes are included in Schedule 2.