NZ Customs Release 732

India is a key strategic partner for New Zealand and presents a growing market for exporters.

A recent Customs visit saw fruitful discussions with Indian agencies on easing trade between our two nations and drug enforcement through greater cooperation, information-sharing and capacity building.

This will help in the fight against transnational drug smuggling, and support business opportunities in both markets.

Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea are currently disrupting goods trade between Europe and New Zealand, as many shipping companies avoid transiting through the Suez Canal.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has prepared analysis on what the ongoing disruption means to global trade as well as the potential risks to New Zealand.

As part of a joint operation with New Zealand Police targeting the supply of methamphetamine in the Gore community, a woman was arrested and a quantity of methamphetamine and cannabis was seized last week. Police are working to target methamphetamine distribution in Gore after Customs noted an increase in border interceptions of drugs destined for the region.

On Friday 16 February Customs seized 18 kilograms of cocaine at Auckland International Airport after locating it in two backpacks that were left unclaimed near the baggage carousel.

Customs officers were alerted to the unclaimed backpacks which arrived from North America, uncovering bricks of cocaine in each backpack. This amount is estimated to be worth up to $8.1 million on the street or the equivalent of 180,000 individual doses.

New Zealand's first nationwide tyre stewardship scheme will start in 2024.  Industry has co-designed the Tyrewise scheme, which will see end-of-life tyres collected and recycled to create new products. To fund scheme services, the Government is introducing a fee on tyres entering the market from 1 March 2024.

Importers of on-road motor vehicles (with regulated tyres attached) will pay the fee to NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi as part of initial vehicle registration. Importers of loose regulated tyres will be invoiced monthly by the Ministry for the Environment. Importers of off-road vehicles or aircraft (with regulated tyres attached) will be invoiced quarterly by the Ministry for the Environment.

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is currently consulting with food operators on changes that will secure funding to enable the strengthening of the imported and domestic food safety system to support businesses and protect consumers.

Want to upskill your cyber security skills so that you know how to keep your data, networks, customer information and reputation secure?

Join CERT NZ's interactive webinar on cyber security for small businesses and organisations to learn about:

•    the basics of online security
•    common online threats
•    practical steps you can take now. 

When: 10:30am, Tuesday 27 February.

After 5 and 6 years respectively in Auckland, it is time for teams Yardy and Rani to hang up their harnesses with their retirement from duties as drug, cash and firearms detector dogs.

Here are some insights from their handlers over their working careers that they would like to share.